Coming Soon: Future Farm 2020
A few months ago, Wellington Town Council commissioned me, through my day job at OPM, to help them come up with a vision for the centre of the town. I think it’s the first time I’ve been ‘commissioned’ to do anything for Wellington – my day job usually takes me to everywhere BUT Wellington – so it’s an exciting opportunity to put some real time and thought into the future of the town.
Writing a vision statement itself isn’t very hard – any of us could come up with a utopian narrative about what we want the town to be like – but what’s critical is that this is rooted in reality and can take us to concrete, practical actions. It’s also important that local people can contribute and feel some sort of ownership of that vision.
So how can you get involved?
1) An online survey to capture people’s views and experiences of Wellington, and also other local towns: this is aimed at anyone aged over 18 who lives, works or studies in either the TF1, TF5 or TF6 postcode areas. It’s online only, just for practical and cost reasons – unfortunately it would take a lot more man hours if we had to receive and process paper copies, whereas the online versions are processed automatically. The survey should only take 10-15 minutes to complete, and one lucky participant will win £50.
2) ‘Future Farm’ – a drop-in event at Wellington Civic & Leisure Centre on Saturday 12th October. Anyone with an interest is welcome to drop in sometime between 10am and midday to take a look at the topics posted around room and jot down ideas and comments. And in the spirit of the Ideas Farm in Wellington this time last year, it’ll also be an opportunity to get some conversations going about what more we could do to take positive action in the town.
All the time though my work, I see change being achieved not by strategies or processes managed in the traditional way by councils, but by people who have ideas, energy and networks with others. Those are the things that count, and what ever vision we end up shaping, it won’t get the town anywhere if we don’t have those ingredients.
So – come along on 12th October and help us explore what Wellington centre could and should be like seven years from now.