Opinion: The strength and spirit of community at Leeds Jewish Housing Association

By Simon Phillips, Community Engagement Officer, Leeds Jewish Housing Association

The value of community power and influence in shaping the well-being of residents cannot be overstated.

The updated Neighborhood and Community Standard is about local co-operation and registered providers co-operating with relevant partners to promote social, environmental and economic wellbeing in the areas where they provide social housing. This is against the backdrop of narratives of neighborhood management strategies in improving both the living conditions of residents within the home and the wider natural environment.

There is a growing consensus that empowered communities are a vital part of the answer to some of the biggest problems we face as a country – problems such as inequality, local decline, loneliness and distrust. This is reflected in campaigns such as We are right herewhich sets out an idea for “community power” and is campaigning for a Community Power Act, legislation that would fundamentally change where power lies so that communities can take control.

In May, coinciding with the announcement of the general elections, the Localitatea organization published its Building Thriving Neighborhoods: The Locality Manifesto, a plan for achieving thriving neighborhoods through a community-fueled economy, preventive public services, and places and spaces for everyone.

At LJHA, our resident engagement framework is based on ‘Ten Ways to Get Involved at LJHA’, combining a mix of ‘formal’ consultative activity and empowering residents to instigate community projects that work for those around them and create neighbourhoods. cohesive. Over the past three years, residents of our Queenshill estate, a housing estate built in 1962 which includes residents with general needs, both young and old, have taken the lead on projects to revitalize their community.

The context for this was twofold: firstly, the social isolation created by the lockdowns caused by Covid and the need to reconnect with neighbours; and secondly, a perception that recent construction work at LJHA has focused on other areas of our portfolio.

Queenshill Gardeners

In 2021, the Tenants’ Association received lottery funding to build community climate change awareness, understanding and resilience. The ‘Queenshill Gardeners’ group have in recent years installed communal water basins, raised beds, a greenhouse and a shed. The group organized days of community events for people of all ages and abilities, with hands-on workshops and art projects. It also connected with like-minded people in the surrounding area who also grow food and vegetables.

Rewilding and biodiversity

To support biodiversity and following a suggestion from residents, over the past few years we have allowed some of the communal green spaces to grow naturally to encourage rewilding as well as spreading wildflower seeds in an area. Aware that not everyone is enamored with the appearance of long, uncut grass, residents have produced an ‘Our Path to Rejuvenation’ leaflet to try and get as much consensus as possible on the matter.

Media boxes

In 2022, three media boxes were decorated on our estate, each design being designed by the young people who live in the area. One of the boxes has ‘Friends of Queenshill’ across the top with cartoon images of people who live here. The boxes were also painted by the residents themselves, thus contributing to the use of skills.

The Little Free Library and The Little Seed Library

In 2023 we managed to secure funding for a Little Free Library at the heart of our estate, joined this year by a Little Veg Library set up next to it. Residents of all ages can also read the seed at the same time!

Some of the above are echoed by residents at other LJHA locations, demonstrating LJHA’s commitment to engaging in community-led housing and planning conversations and the importance of giving communities a tangible stake in their neighborhoods.