Involving and engaging local communities is key to the success of the Elevate programme, as housing and neighbourhoods are being developed to meet their needs and expectations, and will affect their lives. Elevate's community engagement strategy outlines how this will be achieved.
Click here to see our community engagement strategy

CREATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The role of the arts is to improve consultation and communication with residents, a role that can be vitally important during times of major change and regeneration… Equally evident are the more personal and social impacts of these art projects, the ways in which they have transformed individual lives, helped bind communities more closely together and create a sense of pride and identity.
                        Peter Hewitt, Arts Council England

Elevate recognises the opportunity provided by the Community Engagement Strategy (CES) to demonstrate the role creative activity can play in helping communities to articulate their needs and concerns about the changes they face and adapt to these by playing an active part in the renewal programme. In partnership with Arts Council England:North Westand Lancashire County Council’s Arts Development Service, Elevate appointed a Creative Community Engagement Officer in March 2007. This 3-year post will support and facilitate, and with the local authorities deliver a programme of creative community engagement through the Housing Market Renewal scheme.

Contact
For more information about the Creative Community Engagement programme, click on the headings below or contact Claire Tymon on 01254 304583 or claire.tymon@elevate-eastlancs.co.uk.

Pennine Lancashire Squared
A new international competition to design and implement six new ‘squares’ across Pennine Lancashire is now under way! Elevate, with the local authority partners, aspires to see creative community engagement embedded into the process of the competition and the realisation of the newly designed public spaces. The process of engagement is key to the success of these spaces, in terms of developing a programme of community engagement for local people and celebratory, high profile events for visitors to Pennine Lancashire.
Engaging creatively develops sense of place, community ownership and civic pride. Clear communication methods and applying the four levels of engagement – information giving, consultation, involvement and empowerment – at appropriate times within the development of the competition and projects contribute to successful and sustainable ‘squares’.
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Advocacy
To develop a comprehensive communications strategy to promote Elevate’s creative community engagement programme regionally and nationally.
To act as an advocate for Elevate’s community-centred approach to HMR and contribute to its successful delivery.
To increase awareness and understanding of the effectiveness of creative community engagement at all levels from senior policy makers to community members.
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Strategy
Training
Projects
Funding & support