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

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.

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

Who is a Walkie
Talkie™
Local people
Local
networks

Swanscombe and
Greenhithe
From this….
To this….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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