1. Big Local
Good Practice in Action…
Walkie Talkies™
GROUNDWORK KENT & MEDWAY

2. Walkie Talkies™
“Walkie Talkies™
Began in 2005 in
Swanscombe Kent.
A simple idea that works!
Local people walking and
talking to residents about
things that matter to them.

3. Why we think it works
• It’s truly local
• People trust their Walkie Talkies™
• It is independent and seen to be
independent
• It has good mechanisms to let
information flow in both directions
• Sustainable
• Provides good value for money
• Inclusive

4. Who is a Walkie
Talkie™
Local people
Local
networks

5. Swanscombe and
Greenhithe
From this….
To this….

6. How to do it…
• Community development work
• Local networks
• Local people
• Local partnerships
• Training
• Links to other Walkie Talkies to
™
share best practice and learning

7. What makes it work
• The Quality of the project is only
as good as our Contacts and the
People we employ
• Walkie Talkies are recruited
directly from the local
community
• Have good local knowledge and
social networks At Windmill Community
Allotments
• Are passionate about making a
positive difference in their town

8. How we connect
• Word of mouth
• Via social hubs used by ordinary
people
• In school playgrounds, cafes,
allotments, hairdressers, community
centres, sheltered housing, coffee
mornings, shopping centres, major
local events, on the streets…
anywhere people go
• Providing accurate, useful and
impartial information

9. The Tivoli Centre
The group were delighted
to be asked their opinions
about their town
Working closely with the
Seafront Design Team

10. What a Walkie Talkie™
does..
• Training to empower individuals to act
as community advocates / get factual
information from briefing sessions
• Working day – the team go where and
when they are needed (regular routes)
• Feedback – via local steering groups /
community forums
• Uniform – wear a distinctive uniform
with logo, easily identified, builds trust

11. Walkie Talkies and
Big Local
• Walkie Talkies were already
working on Tree Estate when Big
Local was announced.
• Relationship with local people
and agencies already
established.
• Trust was already there

12. What we have been
doing..
• Garden Party for Older Residents
• Community Fun Days
• Allotment Open days
• Coffee mornings at the Community
Centre
• Regular visits to local groups,
schools, children's centre, shops
• Face to face conversations
• Attended summer fetes at local
school and park.

13. Cont…
• Working with our Youth Officer to
engage the Young People.
• Looking at recruiting Young
people to be Walkie Talkies.
• Regular meetings with Princes
Community Forum.
• Door to door consultations on Big
Local
• Always ready to listen

14. What we found…
From 270 direct responses through face to
face consultation and questionnaires
Priorities identified by the community:
• Youth; community activities; activities to
engage young children and teenagers.
• Community Safety; more police on the beat;
cctv; tackle ASB; speeding
cars/motorcycles; youths loitering.
• Health and Wellbeing; exercise classes; job
advice; life skills training
• Environment; More planting to brighten
area; better maintenance of alleyways/green
areas; tidy up gardens /properties; better /
more frequent bus service
• Community “Hubs”; renovate Tree CC and
develop a community centre for Phoenix

15. CONTACT DETAILS
Groundwork Kent & Medway
48 Canterbury Street
Gillingham ME7 5UN
01634 855166
gkm@groundwork.org.uk
www.groundwork-km.org.uk