In the spring of this year, the Mortlake Community Association (MCA) invited the local community to share their ideas on how to help shape the future of Mortlake. The initiative was promoted through social media, school newsletters, banners, and leaflets distributed across the area. A young people’s survey was also shared with schools, scout groups, and youth clubs, generating 150 responses.
On 15th March, MCA hosted a community event at the former Brewery Sports and Social Club, where drop-in sessions were held throughout the day. Discussions were centred around four key themes:
- How can Mortlake be made a more attractive place to live?
- What can be done to improve local shops and services?
- How can Mortlake become greener and more sustainable?
- How can a heart be created for the community?
The event welcomed over 250 local residents, along with local councillors, Sarah Olney MP, and representatives from around 30 local businesses. In addition to in-person engagement, the community contributed over 100 comments via an interactive map, and 80 individuals took part in the Time Trek Walk.
Based on the community’s input, MCA identified and grouped resident priorities under seven thematic areas:
- Community
- Safety
- Environment
- Connectivity
- Infrastructure
- Young People
- Enterprise
A vision and action plan for each theme was presented at Report-Back events held on Saturday 5th July and Wednesday 9th July, attended by a total of 120 people. MCA was encouraged by the high level of community engagement, with around 30 volunteers signing up to help take these projects forward.
Click to view full presentation
The final presentation is available for viewing, and MCA continues to welcome new participants. Anyone interested in supporting a project can get in touch at timi@mortlakecommunityassociation.org.uk, specifying which initiatives they would like to be involved in.
Next Steps: MCA will be organising small group meetings in September and is currently exploring funding opportunities to appoint a Mash Up Project Co-ordinator, who would support project teams and facilitate the sharing of best practices. A further consultation with young people, led by the PowerStation Youth Centre, is also planned for the autumn.
Watch this space!
Timi Fabian, Community Development Manager
Mortlake Community Association