In January 2023 we welcomed Tiffany as our latest Connector trainee. Tiffany isn’t new to community life, having been involved for a number of years as a resident. Tiffany joins Clare (our first trainee) in a paid role, which involves being supported and trained to be an ‘animator’ and ‘alongsider’.
Tiffany has a key role within and over time will increasingly be overseeing the connecting with people out and about, through door knocking, being in community spaces and bumping places (local green spaces, parks, school playgrounds). In these spaces we are ‘present’ offering a welcome, a hello, a conversation, and most importantly there to listen. Tiffany supports the hosting of ‘places of welcome’ and spaces for creativity, well-being and connection e.g. Open Saturdays, Open Door, Coffee morning at local school, and the weekly Local Pantry. Crucially the role is an exciting opportunity to blend together Street Connecting with Green Connecting. For a number of years we having been using the green assets in our neighbourhood as spaces to ‘grow’ community as well as food and flowers (Greener Cleaner Firs and Bromford). A key element for this trainee role involves working with the support of the Green Connectors (Cath & Sam) to find & support neighbours who have passions, skills and enthusiasm for gardening, green activities and people willing to engage with the development of our local green spaces.
Now we have a confession to make; Tiffany isn’t actually a keen gardener. This might come as a surprise and lead you to ask ‘why employ someone to work with people passionate about gardening and green spaces if they aren’t an expert or keen gardener themselves?’ Even Tiffany has asked that question! But, this misses the point of the role of a connector, and in particular being an animator. The key skills and passions Tiffany has are with people, making people feel welcome, being able to make a connection, unearthing other people’s passions, gifts and skills, connecting them with others, and encouraging people to share their skills with others. Plus crucially Tiffany is ‘present’ all around the community meeting a whole range of people, and being attentive to those interested in gardening, and seeing a whole range of ways people might want to be involved in the green spaces and how these spaces are places to grow community. This has included using artistic skills to make signs and encouraging people to cook with produce grown in the gardens. Therefore not being a gardener isn’t a barrier, it actually is an advantage. Tiffany is able to be ‘free’ to connect, to welcome, to be attentive to people, and to nurture the ‘connecting’, whilst others do the ‘green’. We believe what enables green spaces to flourish is having multiple functions of which gardening and growing is one.
One of the early stories is how Grace (name has been changed) has become involved. The story shows how important the welcome is, the invite into community, being attentive to people’s passions and skills, and making that connection……..
We look forward to many more stories of people connecting into community life, sharing their gifts, skills and passions, as well as the growth of our green spaces. We also look forward to Tiffany continuing to grow into the role, and further develop her skills and experience.
Is there an opportunity to think about green spaces as places for nurturing community, and a way for people to show up and share their gifts?
Is there an opportunity to employ an animator? Do you know a local resident who with some extra capacity, time, training, support and the opportunity could nurture connecting and help animate the gifts, skills and passions in your neighbourhood?
We thank The National Lottery Community Fund who funded our work, and gave us the opportunity to employ Tiffany as a trainee. It’s so good when a funder invests in community, connecting and connectors.
Welcome to our street connecting story 