A People's Plan for Blackpool

A people’s plan for Blackpool

As part of our series on defeating narratives of division, we will look at how organising around issues that are widely and deeply felt across community divisions can create opportunities for people to work together and develop mutual trust and respect.

What bigger issue could there be here in Blackpool, than the question of regeneration?

Over the last decade there has been two billion pounds worth of investment, that’s the equivalent to £13,000 for every person living in the town. But what difference has it made to the lives of ordinary Blackpool residents?

Today, seven out of ten of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country are right here in Blackpool. Could we, the people of Blackpool, better identify where funds should go to create real lasting changes, and in doing so, could we overcome division, and build a strong, inclusive story of us’?

Join us, and the Ella Baker School of Organising, to explore how we might start to make a people’s plan for Blackpool’s regeneration.

About the training programme

Many good people, exasperated at the growth in narratives of division feel frozen and unable to act as they are unsure how to make a positive impact.

These series of informal online and in-person training workshops begins from the assumption that people who hold divisive views are not necessarily bad people, and that we have a wider responsibility to:

• Engage with them about their views; and
• Work with them to address the issues that are causing their resentment (usually cross-community issues such as low paid, insecure work, housing affordability, the quality of public services, and the breakdown in an inclusive sense of ‘us’ within communities).

Delivered in partnership with the experienced facilitators from Ella Baker School of Organising, these sessions will equip people active at a grassroots level to effectively act to reduce tension, build unity and address resentments.

What will I learn?

Over the last 18 months, we've seen narratives of division poisoning community relations, escalating to violent conflict on our streets. More and more otherwise decent people seem to be being drawn into blaming ‘minorities’ for problems that they have not caused. It could be someone in your group of friends, your family or your wider circle. Sound familiar?

These sessions will share ways that you can create long term change by developing your confidence and skills so that you can build genuine understanding and lasting connections in your own spaces and communities.

Your Training Lead

John Page from the Ella Baker School of Organising has been a long-time organiser in the trade union, anti-racist and community spheres and has worked as a specialist union organiser and as lead organiser at a number of leading anti-racist charities.John has won significant campaigns in the workplace, and has helped organise communities to oppose narratives of division.He is an experienced trainer and has delivered hundreds of on-line and face to face training sessions to the BMA, trade unions, environmental and a variety of voluntary and community sector organisations.

John is co-author (with Jane Holgate) of Changemakers: Radical Strategies for Social Movement Organising.

This session is in our upstairs workshop space. We're in the process of having a lift installed

There is currently no level access. It’s a single flight of 14 steps then you go around the corner and there are two small steps. Once you’re upstairs there’s a loo. You shouldn’t need to come downstairs for anything until the end of the event.

If you can’t manage the stairs but really want to attend, please let us know by the 24th of the month before by emailing (using the contact organiser button/link) or sending us an SMS text/WhatsApp message on 07957 602790. and we will try to move the activity downstairs.

If you have additional access needs (e.g. large print, BSL interpreter, level access) please let us know.

GETTING HERE

• Tram & Train to Blackpool North Station
• Bus: No 6 or 18 to Topping St., No 3, 3a, 5c, 6, 18 to Church St (Stanley Buildings), No 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 7a, 14 to Talbot Rd

• Driving: The closest pay and display car parks are on East Topping St and Talbot Road multi storey. There is also parking at the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket, please make sure that you check the terms before you use the car park.

TOP TIP: If you need to park a car, then there is usually plenty of free on-street parking on Edward St and Topping St from 6pm.

These training sessions are supported by the Community Cohesion Fund (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Community Recovery Fund) administered by Blackpool Council.

The fund was created to support those communities impacted by the public disorder that took place in July/August 2024. It aims to Foster Community Understanding: Promoting a shared understanding of the issues at a community level, developing community cohesion.