Love Grangetown
Love Grangetown is an annual partnership planning project between Cardiff University and Grangetown residents, launched by Community Gateway in 2015.
The idea
To celebrate the diverse people, places and memories of Grangetown and to engage representatives from across the community to explore collaborative possibilities and develop long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships between community and University.
What we did
Fifteen fantastic community researchers aged 16-70+ from a diverse range of communities across Grangetown interviewed over a hundred local residents, aiming to discover what people loved and appreciated about Grangetown. The community researchers took to the streets, visited temples, mosques, churches, bingo nights, parks and youth centres. On 9 May 2015, residents were invited to attend an event to consider the research findings and develop a schedule of local activities which the University could invest in.
Results
Community members identified nine key themes for investment and future partnerships:
- Community spaces
- Provision for young people
- Safer Grangetown
- Healthy and active Grangetown
- Clean streets and green spaces
- Friendly community
- Communication without barriers
- Work and shop locally
- Road respect.
The theme which was considered the highest priority in Grangetown in 2015 was ‘Community Spaces’. The information gathered during Love Grangetown was key to securing over £2m grant funding to redevelop the Grangetown Bowls Pavilion in Grange Gardens, transforming it into a quality and accessible resident-led community centre. The construction of the new Grange Pavilion was finished in summer 2020 and the Pavilion opened for public use in the Autumn.
Progress
Love Grangetown has continued as an annual consultation since 2015 and feedback from the community at each event has been invaluable in shaping Community Gateway strategy and focus. Partnerships and activities that aligned to the nine themes and linked to Cardiff University’s research or teaching or could enhance the student experience by providing valuable volunteering opportunities have been funded or supported over the years.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Love Grangetown has been held online to ensure that the consolation process did not pause and has allowed us to determine the key priority themes during these challenging times. The latest Love Grangetown was held on 18 November 2021, during which the survey results showed that ‘Clean Streets and Green Spaces’ was still a main priority from the previous year, however there was emerging concern on ‘Provision for Young People’. These results will shape the projects that we support to ensure that the needs for the Grangetown community are met.
Love Grangetown 2022
This year Love Grangetown will return in-person at the Grange Pavilion. We will be holding a series of events throughout the week of 14-18 November, with the annual celebration and strategic planning day taking place on Saturday 19 November.