Agbrigg & Belle Vue Community Association

by Rachel Pilling of the Community Cohesion Team The WMDC Community Cohesion team have been working hard with other organisations to deliver a Communities R Us project in the area. The first phase of the project saw 8 local people trained in interviewing skills by the Youth Forward project. These young people then carried out numerous interviews with residents of Agbrigg and Belle Vue, asking them how they felt about living in the area, and what they would like to change. Residents were also asked who they thought should be responsible for change and encouraged to think about getting involved. People of all ages and backgrounds were interviewed – migrant workers, Travellers and Gypsies, people new to the area, people who had lived here a long time, white people, the established south Asian community, asylum seekers and refugees. Some comments were:

• “It’s a nice place to live”
• “The main problems are drugs, litter and graffiti – drastic action is needed”
• “It’s up to us people living here to make changes for the better”
• “There should be joint activities and celebrations between communities”

At a lively event on the 10th September, Dead Earnest Theatre presented a short play that highlighted the issues raised. It was an interactive session and many residents got involved, creating lots of discussion and sharing points of view. Sandal Magna School also took part, opening the event with poems and a display about their concerns about rubbish and graffiti in Agbrigg and Belle Vue. Another aspect of the event was asking people to decide what £3000, (part of funding) should be spent on, based on the findings of the interviews. By the comments that were made and recorded at the event, it was clear that people felt that facilities for young people was the most pressing issue, and this is now being taken forward using the suggestions made. For more information, contact Rachel Pilling at Wakefield Council, 01924 305174.