1 00:00:25,039 --> 00:00:26,960 SAFE is a community business centre 2 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,039 based in the old school. 3 00:00:28,039 --> 00:00:30,679 And it's got 13 social enterprises there. 4 00:00:30,839 --> 00:00:33,320 We own the Lock & Key community pub 5 00:00:33,679 --> 00:00:35,200 which was a derelict pub. 6 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,320 All the profits that are generated 7 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,320 through the festivals, events, 8 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,280 through the pub, all of that goes 9 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,159 straight back in to the charity, 10 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,000 to be reinvested, to support local 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,079 people, to do more great things. 12 00:00:47,359 --> 00:00:49,920 The group we're involved in is a Tuesday 13 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,320 afternoon sing around in the pub. 14 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,520 And we've sang today at the Country 15 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:55,799 Festival, and we started the 16 00:00:55,799 --> 00:00:57,280 Country Festival off last year. 17 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:59,159 We started it off and 18 00:00:59,159 --> 00:01:00,280 that's a dream come true. 19 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,640 The keynotes are a bunch of ragtag 20 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:05,959 and bobtail musicians. 21 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:07,680 We all love ukuleles, we all love to get 22 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,359 together and have fun, sing and play. 23 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:13,840 Singing Our Socks Off is a community 24 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,840 choir that I started 18 years ago. 25 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:17,480 We've supported charities 26 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:18,560 if they have an event. 27 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,359 We've supported them at Christmas. 28 00:01:20,719 --> 00:01:22,920 We organise group litter picks. 29 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,079 We organise litter picks with children. 30 00:01:25,359 --> 00:01:27,079 We do the education of the young people. 31 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,599 We also work with Mencap, and 32 00:01:29,599 --> 00:01:30,799 bring people with learning 33 00:01:30,799 --> 00:01:32,680 disabilities out into the community. 34 00:01:32,879 --> 00:01:35,640 And we've also now got a reading club. 35 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:38,239 We do a coffee club as well. 36 00:01:38,879 --> 00:01:41,719 We litter pick within the community. 37 00:01:41,879 --> 00:01:43,159 We clean up grot spots. 38 00:01:43,159 --> 00:01:45,159 We do planting of flowers, just to make 39 00:01:45,159 --> 00:01:47,239 the area look a bit better, to create 40 00:01:47,239 --> 00:01:49,840 a cleaner, greener, brighter Bootle. 41 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,239 Halley's Hub is a pre loved 42 00:01:52,239 --> 00:01:54,159 shop selling anything from 43 00:01:54,159 --> 00:01:56,719 clothes to household items. 44 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:58,079 And everything in the 45 00:01:58,079 --> 00:01:59,200 shop is for a pound. 46 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,680 We do free uniform, free 47 00:02:01,719 --> 00:02:03,439 pre love baby clothes, the 48 00:02:03,439 --> 00:02:05,200 food pantry, the food waste. 49 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,159 We offer monthly sessions for kids 50 00:02:08,159 --> 00:02:10,039 and families in the community to see 51 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:12,919 wildlife on the canal and enjoy the 52 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:14,199 sports facilities that are available. 53 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,400 We'll be out there, first point of 54 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,680 contact, and we listen to people. 55 00:02:20,879 --> 00:02:22,400 We door knock, we'll have 56 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,759 conversations, and it's giving 57 00:02:24,759 --> 00:02:27,080 people an opportunity to to speak. 58 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:28,919 We attend public meetings, 59 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:30,400 gatherings, events. 60 00:02:30,599 --> 00:02:32,800 We do anything from working with 61 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:34,639 a local park group, we've helped 62 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,639 set up the People's Park Festival. 63 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,759 We had over 12, 000 people 64 00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:40,000 attend over two days. 65 00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:42,159 We work with local asylum seeker 66 00:02:42,159 --> 00:02:44,439 refugee organisation across the 67 00:02:44,439 --> 00:02:46,680 road, we work with other community 68 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,159 based projects and organisations. 69 00:02:49,719 --> 00:02:51,280 So that can take the form of 70 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:53,080 getting a petition together to 71 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:54,280 change a lot of problems with 72 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,680 potholes and unadopted roads. 73 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:58,840 And talking to local councillors 74 00:02:59,199 --> 00:03:01,240 and landlords about the things they 75 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:02,680 need to change on their street. 76 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:04,960 We collaborate on events like Big 77 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,159 Litter Picks and across the row 78 00:03:07,159 --> 00:03:09,240 we have the Outback, which is a 79 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,080 community garden and a Family Centre. 80 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,879 The Outback is a community garden 81 00:03:14,879 --> 00:03:16,159 garden where people volunteer. 82 00:03:16,159 --> 00:03:18,199 We use a lot of the produce 83 00:03:18,199 --> 00:03:19,960 that's grown, which gives people 84 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:21,280 satisfaction to see it from 85 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,319 seed to plant to on the table. 86 00:03:23,719 --> 00:03:25,759 Tesco's generously give us 87 00:03:25,759 --> 00:03:27,800 whatever they can from a surplus. 88 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:28,919 And we cook it here. 89 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,319 So it's freshly hot meals that 90 00:03:32,319 --> 00:03:34,439 we give to our volunteers. 91 00:03:34,439 --> 00:03:35,680 And we do plot to plates, 92 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:36,719 budget cookings. 93 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:38,680 I go out to teach people. 94 00:03:38,879 --> 00:03:40,479 We teach nursery staff, 95 00:03:40,479 --> 00:03:41,599 we teach parents. 96 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:43,680 We've got two polytunnels. 97 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,719 We grow chillies and tomatoes 98 00:03:45,719 --> 00:03:47,199 and aubergines in here. 99 00:03:47,439 --> 00:03:50,039 And then outside, we grow all 100 00:03:50,039 --> 00:03:50,919 sorts of different things. 101 00:03:50,919 --> 00:03:53,319 Squashes, courgettes, beetroot. 102 00:03:53,639 --> 00:03:54,919 We grow kind of what the 103 00:03:54,919 --> 00:03:56,280 community like to buy. 104 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:57,919 We make lots of different 105 00:03:57,919 --> 00:03:59,080 curries, soups. 106 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:01,560 We have a pop up shop, and 107 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,680 people come and buy our produce. 108 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:05,719 We have a range of volunteers. 109 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:07,039 And we have a learning experience 110 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,080 on how bees work in society. 111 00:04:10,479 --> 00:04:11,639 The three hives this year, 112 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:13,240 very fortunately have given us 113 00:04:13,479 --> 00:04:15,960 close to 450 jars of honey. 114 00:04:18,439 --> 00:04:20,240 We run a number of programmes where 115 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,639 we're delivering services, such as 116 00:04:22,639 --> 00:04:24,879 our community transport, taking people 117 00:04:24,879 --> 00:04:27,399 to hospital or day centres, based 118 00:04:27,399 --> 00:04:30,319 on electric rechargeable vehicles. 119 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,240 We have a community newspaper 120 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:34,240 called Watchet Connects. 121 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:35,600 We produce and deliver to 122 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:36,759 every house in Watchet. 123 00:04:37,399 --> 00:04:38,560 And we have a programme with young 124 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,319 people called Strives, where we're 125 00:04:40,319 --> 00:04:41,399 working particularly with those 126 00:04:41,399 --> 00:04:43,560 kids who might not go to education 127 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,399 or youth club, to do activities. 128 00:04:46,399 --> 00:04:48,160 We also help other groups 129 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,079 identify and potentially apply for 130 00:04:50,079 --> 00:04:51,879 funding for their own programmes. 131 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,120 We support local organisations, 132 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,279 with things like upskilling. 133 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:56,560 We've recently started 134 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:57,680 up a women's group. 135 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,399 We also work in the library with 136 00:05:00,399 --> 00:05:02,879 Sparks IT, helping sometimes 137 00:05:02,879 --> 00:05:04,839 older people, get used to using 138 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,360 things like computers, smartphones. 139 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,120 There's the community bookshop which 140 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,879 we renovated and we now rent that out 141 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:14,519 to the people who run the bookshop. 142 00:05:14,879 --> 00:05:16,800 That brings a profit in for us, which 143 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,759 we then plough back into the community. 144 00:05:19,399 --> 00:05:20,839 When the lottery funding came 145 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:22,519 through, that's meant that we can 146 00:05:22,519 --> 00:05:25,639 expand into two rooms rather than one 147 00:05:25,639 --> 00:05:27,800 room and put out a lot more stock. 148 00:05:27,879 --> 00:05:30,240 Previously it was damp, it was 149 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,360 cold, it felt very restrictive. 150 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:33,720 It's a great building to be in 151 00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:35,639 and very welcoming to visitors. 152 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,319 The Quantock Foodbank serves a 153 00:05:39,319 --> 00:05:43,000 very rural and coastal population. 154 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,160 We have changed the whole of our 155 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,639 operation from just being a food bank to 156 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:51,839 actually operating through our pantries. 157 00:05:52,079 --> 00:05:54,759 One is static and the other is 158 00:05:54,759 --> 00:05:56,879 a fully electric mobile vehicle 159 00:05:56,879 --> 00:05:58,319 which goes round the villages. 160 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,040 Those who have been referred 161 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,800 without funds can still access 162 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:05,279 the pantry free of charge. 163 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:07,839 However, those who are struggling 164 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:09,600 with the cost of living, pay a 165 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,839 membership subscription of four 166 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,399 pound a week, and for that they're 167 00:06:14,399 --> 00:06:17,759 receiving 35, 40 pounds worth of food. 168 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,839 Watchet Connects is a bi-monthly 169 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:22,800 magazine that is free to 170 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,439 everybody who lives in the town. 171 00:06:24,439 --> 00:06:27,600 The whole process is done by volunteers. 172 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:29,240 It tries to publicise everything 173 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:30,639 that's going on in the town. 174 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,560 Both the opportunities for volunteering, 175 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,759 but also the options that are available 176 00:06:35,759 --> 00:06:38,000 for people to enjoy themselves, to join 177 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,519 groups, to become part of the community. 178 00:06:58,120 --> 00:06:59,720 I really feel it gives me purpose 179 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:01,720 and it gives me a feeling of pride. 180 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,160 It's built life friendships. 181 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,759 I myself have felt at times lost, 182 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,639 and with the facilities here and 183 00:07:09,639 --> 00:07:11,160 the people here, I feel I'm a 184 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:13,199 better person for doing this. 185 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:14,639 It gets me out. 186 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:15,959 It's a bit of exercise. 187 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:17,959 Seeing litter doesn't do 188 00:07:17,959 --> 00:07:19,120 my mental health any good. 189 00:07:19,839 --> 00:07:20,759 Picking up that litter 190 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:22,720 improves my mental health. 191 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:24,720 Sometimes it's my reason for getting 192 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,800 up in the morning, is to see the sun 193 00:07:27,079 --> 00:07:28,959 and to get out, take my litter pick 194 00:07:28,959 --> 00:07:31,199 with me and by the time I come back 195 00:07:31,199 --> 00:07:34,560 I feel so much happier in myself. 196 00:07:35,199 --> 00:07:36,720 There's a lot of my members who, 197 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:38,439 going on in their home life. 198 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:39,480 People who've lost their 199 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,000 partners who come to the choir. 200 00:07:41,399 --> 00:07:43,560 And for them to be able to meet 201 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,439 new friends, do an activity 202 00:07:45,439 --> 00:07:47,240 they want to do and new skills. 203 00:07:47,639 --> 00:07:48,800 It's part of their life. 204 00:07:49,319 --> 00:07:51,240 Last year we were awarded Merseyside 205 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:52,839 Women of the Year, and that 206 00:07:52,839 --> 00:07:54,519 was voted for by the community, 207 00:07:54,839 --> 00:07:56,680 which we were very proud of. 208 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,279 When you feel you've no control over 209 00:08:00,279 --> 00:08:02,199 your life, it's hopeless, isn't it? 210 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:03,759 But if you feel you're connected 211 00:08:03,759 --> 00:08:05,000 with people and you can kind of 212 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,360 influence the space that you live in 213 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,399 and make a positive impact, well then 214 00:08:10,399 --> 00:08:11,439 it's a beautiful thing, isn't it? 215 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,800 I see this as my community, and 216 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:17,839 it's my way of of giving back. 217 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:19,680 It's really important 218 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:21,199 to respect the roots you've had, 219 00:08:21,199 --> 00:08:22,199 where you've come from 220 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:23,360 and... 221 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:24,839 and to see it change 222 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:26,600 and change in the hands 223 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,000 of the people that live in 224 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,319 the community is absolutely amazing. 225 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:32,120 We have people who have been to 226 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,360 bees who are struggling in society. 227 00:08:34,919 --> 00:08:36,120 Getting involved with bees has made 228 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,320 a difference to a point where one or 229 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,600 two of them would actually say that 230 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,679 beekeeping has saved their lives 231 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:44,360 and you cannot put a value on that. 232 00:08:45,159 --> 00:08:47,080 It's something that gives me a 233 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:48,840 lot of joy, a lot of happiness. 234 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:50,720 It's my happy place. 235 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,559 And it's more economical as well. 236 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,200 Rather than buying more and wasting, 237 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:57,759 we're trying to teach them that what 238 00:08:57,759 --> 00:08:59,440 they've got in their pantries, what 239 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,399 they have at home is what they can 240 00:09:01,399 --> 00:09:03,320 budget on and learn to cook from that. 241 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:05,399 I love feeding people. 242 00:09:05,399 --> 00:09:07,039 Feeding is my life. 243 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:08,080 The more the better. 244 00:09:08,519 --> 00:09:10,320 I'm on my own, as a widow. 245 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:12,320 So coming here also gives 246 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,080 me company and enjoyment. 247 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,120 It allows me to use my creative 248 00:09:16,279 --> 00:09:18,320 skills that I've had over the years. 249 00:09:18,879 --> 00:09:20,399 And I've noticed over the time 250 00:09:20,399 --> 00:09:21,960 I've been coming that people 251 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:23,360 have got the confidence back. 252 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:26,000 Their enjoyment through being helpful 253 00:09:26,039 --> 00:09:27,639 towards others, growing things 254 00:09:27,639 --> 00:09:29,720 helps them and I think actually 255 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:31,480 gives them a better quality of life. 256 00:09:31,759 --> 00:09:33,399 I look forward to coming, actually. 257 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,279 Lovely people to work for. 258 00:09:35,799 --> 00:09:37,919 It's keeping me fit and active, and 259 00:09:37,919 --> 00:09:39,519 at my age that's very, very important. 260 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:42,639 And psychologically as well, people 261 00:09:42,639 --> 00:09:44,919 here get a lot of benefit out of it. 262 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,240 The people that we see, a lot 263 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:50,600 of them are very vulnerable. 264 00:09:50,799 --> 00:09:54,080 A lot of them are in severe ill health. 265 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,240 They come in very shy. 266 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:02,480 And we have seen remarkable changes to 267 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,000 a point in time when they say that they 268 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,399 are ready to stand on their own again. 269 00:10:07,639 --> 00:10:09,440 And they have developed 270 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,559 confidence in dealing with people. 271 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:12,919 Helping these projects 272 00:10:12,919 --> 00:10:14,039 makes me feel proud. 273 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:15,919 It makes me feel part of the community. 274 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,519 I enjoy making a magazine because 275 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,159 I like the feeling of connecting 276 00:10:20,159 --> 00:10:21,679 people together, that's one of the 277 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:23,879 reasons for the name and it works 278 00:10:23,879 --> 00:10:25,600 in my head, it works for me as well. 279 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:27,759 It's a great place to volunteer. 280 00:10:27,919 --> 00:10:29,200 It keeps you in touch with local 281 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:30,960 people but it also enables you 282 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:32,960 to meet lots of other people. 283 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,480 Also, it's raising funds 284 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:36,720 for local good causes. 285 00:10:55,279 --> 00:10:57,039 What the Canoe Club gives us is 286 00:10:57,039 --> 00:10:58,759 an opportunity to let people see 287 00:10:58,759 --> 00:11:00,759 nature, to see that there's more 288 00:11:00,759 --> 00:11:02,960 than just buildings and brickwork 289 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:04,679 around Bootle, that there is so much 290 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:06,559 nature around here, that they see 291 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,159 there's other opportunities, not just 292 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,919 your standard brick jobs out there. 293 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:12,840 If the lock and key wasn't here, 294 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:14,840 and Safe Regeneration wasn't 295 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:16,320 here, there'd be nothing here. 296 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:17,360 There'd be nothing going 297 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:18,240 on in the community. 298 00:11:18,759 --> 00:11:20,159 It provides such a range of 299 00:11:20,159 --> 00:11:21,600 opportunities for different ages. 300 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:24,759 There's a great sense of community, 301 00:11:24,799 --> 00:11:26,960 we're all friends, we all really 302 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:28,720 enjoy developing together. 303 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:30,679 It's like a second home. 304 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:32,200 And everybody, they're 305 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:33,679 just like one big family. 306 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,440 We're just so lucky to have found this 307 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,639 place, which lots of people who've 308 00:11:38,639 --> 00:11:40,159 come along have said, I would never 309 00:11:40,159 --> 00:11:42,759 have dreamed of singing or playing 310 00:11:42,759 --> 00:11:44,879 an instrument, but because the pub 311 00:11:44,879 --> 00:11:47,879 makes everybody feel so close together 312 00:11:47,879 --> 00:11:49,639 they said, oh, we'll spread the word 313 00:11:49,639 --> 00:11:51,440 and we'll start this here or there. 314 00:11:52,159 --> 00:11:53,720 I think that gives people a sense 315 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,200 of pride if they can see that their 316 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:57,799 environment is being cared for. 317 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,200 We're also very conscious of how 318 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,039 litter affects our waterways. 319 00:12:02,399 --> 00:12:03,879 And we know that if litter gets into 320 00:12:03,879 --> 00:12:06,159 our waterways, it ends up in our sea. 321 00:12:06,639 --> 00:12:08,240 And we hope that by getting at 322 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,000 the children at a young age, that 323 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,720 by the time they are in secondary 324 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,679 school and are adults, they 325 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:15,360 understand the importance of looking 326 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:16,919 after their environment as well. 327 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:19,279 It's therapeutic for us, 328 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,639 but it's also really nice 329 00:12:21,639 --> 00:12:23,080 to see the smiles on children's 330 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,440 faces and young adults when they 331 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,080 can do something that their parents 332 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:28,519 maybe couldn't afford before. 333 00:12:30,399 --> 00:12:32,360 One thing I'm really, really proud of 334 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,440 is the impact we've had 335 00:12:34,799 --> 00:12:37,480 on galvanising the community to 336 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,919 hold the council accountable for 337 00:12:39,919 --> 00:12:41,679 all the potholes in the area. 338 00:12:42,639 --> 00:12:44,039 I started a campaign. 339 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:45,000 The hashtag? 340 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:46,559 Fill my hole. 341 00:12:46,799 --> 00:12:49,039 That was a hashtag that went viral. 342 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,039 We had over 200 potholes reported. 343 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,960 And now we are seeing the change, 344 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,240 potholes are getting filled, some 345 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,840 roads have improved, and the council 346 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,159 are being held accountable by who? 347 00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:03,159 The public. 348 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,840 We had one lady that came, the 349 00:13:05,879 --> 00:13:08,200 housing development was deteriorating 350 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,559 and so we went down to her estate. 351 00:13:10,919 --> 00:13:13,440 And now that estate has been upgraded. 352 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:14,519 And so they've got new pitched 353 00:13:14,519 --> 00:13:16,320 roofs, new windows, new doors. 354 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,559 And it's really brought 355 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:19,679 the neighbourhood up. 356 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,720 So many people can get isolated 357 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:22,919 very quickly and lose that 358 00:13:22,919 --> 00:13:25,320 trust just by a small incident. 359 00:13:25,519 --> 00:13:27,440 So the impact of all this is people 360 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,320 suddenly getting that they are a 361 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,039 community, they can see change very 362 00:13:31,039 --> 00:13:32,759 quickly if they work together and 363 00:13:32,759 --> 00:13:34,200 actually just talk to each other. 364 00:13:34,399 --> 00:13:35,559 And then the empowering 365 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:36,600 is quite magical. 366 00:13:38,399 --> 00:13:39,799 Through connecting all the different 367 00:13:39,799 --> 00:13:41,720 groups in Watchet, we're stronger 368 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,600 together than we are individually. 369 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:44,639 And so building 370 00:13:44,639 --> 00:13:46,519 cohesion of different groups and 371 00:13:46,519 --> 00:13:48,320 individuals making them feel more 372 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,320 part of the community and being able 373 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,200 to participate in it and enjoy it. 374 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,360 We support the economic wellbeing 375 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,159 of the town through improving 376 00:13:57,159 --> 00:13:59,440 the infrastructure, for example, 377 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:00,679 refurbishing the bookshop. 378 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,759 And we've got over 100 members 379 00:14:03,759 --> 00:14:07,000 of charities, businesses, other 380 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,159 interest groups who help shape what 381 00:14:09,159 --> 00:14:11,279 the people of Watchet like to do. 382 00:14:11,639 --> 00:14:13,159 We're working towards upskilling 383 00:14:13,159 --> 00:14:14,440 people so that they can take the 384 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,159 opportunities that's around this area. 385 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,200 The town's growing and young 386 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:19,799 people are choosing to stay. 387 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:21,960 Watchet Connects is really 388 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:23,320 important to Watchet. 389 00:14:23,679 --> 00:14:25,600 It's a way of getting information 390 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,080 into every property in Watchet. 391 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:28,639 We do have a significant number of 392 00:14:28,639 --> 00:14:31,639 people who don't have a computer. 393 00:14:31,639 --> 00:14:33,039 They often complain that they 394 00:14:33,039 --> 00:14:34,200 don't know what's going on. 395 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:35,879 And so Watchet Connects is a 396 00:14:35,879 --> 00:14:38,480 tool that we can enable them to 397 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:39,960 know what's happening in Watchet. 398 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,120 I think over 6000 pounds this year 399 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:43,960 has been donated to local causes. 400 00:14:44,159 --> 00:14:46,000 And the building is available for 401 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,360 community groups, and also used by 402 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,159 some of the Ukrainian immigrants 403 00:14:50,159 --> 00:14:52,039 who are having English lessons. 404 00:14:52,039 --> 00:14:55,080 And they also share some of their skills 405 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:56,360 with some of the local community.