April-June 2022
It is with great and deep sadness that members of the community mourn the loss of Julie Jackson. Her contribution to community life, her support for the Shed, Warsop Youth Club and Vibrant Warsop, among many projects, was key to launching these initiatives for the wider benefit of the people of Warsop Parish.
As your Big Local Rep, every three months or so, I share my thoughts on local area progress with you as residents and with the central team managing the national programme. Your comments and thoughts are always welcome.
The big picture
Despite still much uncertainty home and abroad, this has been perhaps the most settled, or, can we say normal three months for over two years. Many aspects of our lives have opened up further and most of us are getting about more and re-joining activities in our communities. For Big Local, this has meant continuing new ways of doing things, especially online, but also returning more and more to face to face meetings and events.
Resident-led investment in the area has continued to support those particularly hard pressed, while picking up and giving a welcome push to things happening out and about, planning also for the summer and perhaps bigger events.
For all the heartache, loss and grief experienced in these last two years, Big Local has been at the heart of something good, very good: residents showing compassion and concern through practical action backed by dedicated resources, investment and volunteer time. When the 150 Big Local areas come to share and update our stories at Big Local Connects in September 2022, again in Nottingham, there will be many and varied stories to share, to celebrate and to inspire.
Looking back
The partnership approach in its last plan has been to be patient and wait and see what emerges post-Covid regarding local need and opportunities. With less than £100,000 of investment remaining, it has wanted to be considered but not timid when and if an opportunity arose. The Sargison Centre seems to be that occasion and the partnership has recently confirmed about £26,000 toward the purchase (the Crown will consider transferring ownership for a small cost) and renovation of the building. With a tenancy on the first floor likely, the partnership found the Friends of Warsop Vale business plan sound. There is a long way to go. The next step is for the group to constitute as a Community Interest Company which they are doing with the support of Vibrant Warsop. The partnership has also invested in enabling The Town Hall Group to consider options to constitute formally.
Vibrant Warsop has progressed renovations at the Chapel and increased activity and footfall. It continues to support InfoTech, the Family History group and Job Club all at the Town Hall. The last round of ROLO community chest saw small grants to Warsop PPC, Vibrant, Oaklands, Longden Terrace, Meden Vale Colts, Cardiac Arrest in the Young, Market Warsop FC, Hetts Lane Holiday Club and the 2nd Warsop Scouts.
Looking ahead
With fanfare and great excitement and the promise of excellent weather, Warsop Carnival is back on 10 July. Big Warsop and Vibrant Warsop will be there. It is a great opportunity to share and to celebrate achievement and to update residents on progress relating to the health hub. Architects are being assigned and plans confirmed. Then contractors will be appointed and the spade should break the soil in the autumn. We should not forget that this is happening through and thanks to the voice and interest of many people across the Parish, being helped to connect with the community conversation by Vibrant Warsop, supported by Big Warsop.
