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 overestimated.

The refreshed Neighbourhood and Community Standard refers to local co-operation and registered providers co-operating with relevant partners to promote social, environmental and economic well-being in the areas where they provide social housing. This is against the background of narratives around neighbourhood management strategies in improving both the living conditions of residents inside the home, but also 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 facing us as a country – problems like inequality, local decline, loneliness and mistrust. This is reflected in campaigns like We’re Right Here, which sets out an idea for ‘community power’ and campaigning for a Community Power Act, legislation which would fundamentally change where power lies, so that communities can take back control.

In May, coinciding with the announcement of a general election, the organisation Locality published their Building Thriving Neighbourhoods: The Locality Manifesto, a blueprint for achieving thriving neighbourhoods through a community-powered economy, preventative public services, and places and spaces for everyone.

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

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

Queenshill Gardeners

In 2021, the Tenants Association were awarded Lottery funding to build climate change knowledge, understanding and resilience in the community. The ‘Queenshill Gardeners’ group have, over the last few years, installed communal water butts, raised beds, a greenhouse and a shed. The group have organised community event days for people of all ages and abilities with practical workshops and art projects. It has also created a link with like-minded individuals in the neighbouring area who are also growing food and vegetables.

Rewilding and biodiversity

In order to support biodiversity, and following a suggestion from residents, in the last few years, we have left some of the communal green spaces to grow naturally to encourage rewilding, as well as spreading wildflower seeds in one area. Conscious of the fact that not everyone is enamoured by the appearance of long and unmown grass, residents produced a ‘Our Path to Rewilding’ leaflet to try and achieve as much of a consensus on this as possible.

Media boxes

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

Little Free Library and Little Seed Library

In 2023, we were successful in obtaining funding for a Little Free Library in the heart of our estate, joined this year by a Little Veg Library installed next to it. Residents of all ages can read and seed at the same time!

Some of the above is being replicated by residents at other LJHA locations, demonstrating LJHA’s commitment to engaging with conversations about community-led housing and planning, and the importance of giving communities a tangible stake in their neighbourhoods.