Local community leaders and partners came together yesterday (Wed July 23) for The Gathering – an event dedicated to discussing and progressing a shared vision for Hull. At the heart of the conversation was the Community Plan; how partners throughout the city are already working on enacting its six ambitions, and what happens next.
The Community Plan was launched in 2024, and is a set of six ambitions and three commitments which will shape the city for the next decade. It was created in partnership, by the council, local organisations, and Hull people.
Before it was written, the council and its partners spoke to people in Hull about their future hopes for the city and themselves. Many people also took part in a questionnaire, either online or on paper. The detail collected was used to form the Community Plan – with its three key themes, Our Lives, Our Streets, Our City.
The Gathering was the beginning of the next phase of the Plan. It was an opportunity for partners to talk about ways they are already working on enacting its six ambitions, and how to better collaborate going forward.
Cllr Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “At the heart of the Community Plan is collaboration. That started with its foundation being conversation with organisations, communities and people across Hull. The ambitions and commitments made are all the outcome of what people told us they want for their lives, their streets and our city.
“The Community Plan is all about making the changes in the city that the public want to see. It sees the council working alongside many fantastic organisations in Hull as well as the local community to create the sort of Hull we all want to see and so The Gathering was a fantastic opportunity to see what progress has been made and what more work needs to take place in the future. It has also helped strengthen existing partnerships, forge new ones, and highlight exciting future opportunities”.
Karen Okra, representing St Stephen’s Neighbourhood Centre at yesterday’s event, said: “I wanted to speak to people here and see how their work aligns to the community plan. You see across communities that people have similar concerns and issues and at the same time, a lot that can flourish.
“Strengthening communities means talking to people, meeting them where they’re at; it can’t be tokenistic. It’s about inclusivity and recognising we all want the same thing; people want Hull to be a place for them.
“We need to bring people together; it’s important to realise not everyone is at the forefront of what’s happening. It’s not about them coming to us, it’s about us going to them and hearing different voices”.
Lindsey Alvis, CEO and creative director of Artlink and 87 Gallery, said she valued the opportunity to bring a cross-section of people and sectors together to explore new opportunities to collaborate.
She added: “Artlink is an organisation deeply embedded in the community and we really value that. We work across all six ambitions [of the Community Plan] in different ways. Reaching Our Potential is a huge one for us. We want to invest in bringing brilliant artists to the city and engaging in young people and their futures; giving them pathways and helping them see opportunities in creative sectors.
“In terms of Happy and Thriving Neighbourhoods, we’re an art gallery on people’s doorsteps, in a vibrant and diverse community on Princes ave. It’s about seeing value in art and the role it can play and joy it can bring to community”.
You can read the Community Plan here: https://www.hull.gov.uk/strategies-policies-plans-performance/community-plan
The six ambitions it sets out are:
- Safe and welcoming neighbourhoods
- A healthier and fairer Hull
- Reaching our potential
- Economic growth that works for all
- Responding to the climate and nature emergency
- Our culture, our heritage, our city
The three commitments are:
- Engagement of all residents and communities
- Strong, united leadership committed to improving outcomes
- A focus on inclusion.
