Your Westerham - The Future
At the end of 2008, Westerham Parish Council in conjunction with
Kent Rural Towns asked for volunteers to get involved with their
Healthcheck process for our town.
The group has given this project the title
The aim of our Healthcheck is to analyse the town's strengths and weaknesses, to
consult with everyone who would like to add their voice, and to identify projects
which might qualify for funding - and to try to build a collaborative vision of
an even better Westerham. ...and then help to make it happen.
The Healthcheck Process
A small group of new volunteers and parish councillors jointly held a public launch
meeting in October where we talked about the process and dragooned a few more wonderful
folk to join the ‘health check’ team.
We began, as other towns have done before us, by undertaking a series of surveys. Our volunteers split into four groups to pull together a wealth of detailed information about the ‘health’ of Westerham’s: economy, social & Community arrangements, transport, and environment.
A steering group was established in October 2009 and Lesley Moore was invited to
co-ordinate the activity of the workgroups. Lesley later agreed to also chair a
steering group for the health check process, which is made up of the key/lead volunteers
from the workgroups, some parish councillors, colleagues from Kent Rural Towns,
and anyone else who wishes to become involved and contribute.
Progress So far...
Much great
work has been taking place in-between group meetings, lead by the volunteers with
energy and enthusiasm to make things happen. Great new connections between organisations
are being established and the advantages of collaboration between individuals; small
organisations, public bodies and private businesses are already being enjoyed and
put to good use.
Amongst the most exciting developments are:
- The aspiration for Westerham to become a Transition Town: e.g. improving our environment
by having traffic that causes less trouble/local product sourcing etc.
Find out more at: www.transitiontowns.org
- The emerging collaborative culture in which people communicate, co-ordinate;supporting traders and businesses, the activities of our many societies and clubs and this volunteer group Your Westerham-The Future.
For further reading...
- The KRT Healthcheck Handbook Healthcheck Handbook
- Data Sources Guide for Healthcheck Questionnaires Data Sources Handbook
Other towns which have undertaken the Healthcheck process
- Edenbridge
- Hawkhurst see Hawkhurst website and also Summary Document
- Faversham Final Report
- Tenterden Website
