A very topical  question as Glasgow is now engrossed in COP26 and the Climate Emergency dominates our media both social and mainstream. The old adage think Global act local seems extremely  relevant and undoubtedly the impact of our environmental  actions locally will affect the planet wholesale, but equally worrying is how that initial local impact then bounces back to bite us all in the bahookie a second time. The mess in our streets can  make our daily lives miserable and hazardous but the bigger story is how that detritus then ends up in our waterways and the  oceans and then ultimately in our food chain and then it comes back to our community to poison ourselves and our families through our diets, other consumptions and the quality of the air and environment around us.

Back in April of this year I supported a groups of young people from Camelon and Tamfourhill to take part in canal clear up day which  also involved an environmental learning workshop , let’s look back to an earlier blog when I noted the following:  A recurring theme throughout the Canal clear ups was how our littering actions locally actually impact upon the world globally and then come back to affect the quality of our lives locally. A big circle of environmental damage and pollution that will affect every one of us in our daily lives. The young people who took part in the workshop sessions held at Tamfourhill Community Hub came up with highly creative ideas about how we can start to reduce the damage that we are causing by our constant use and dependency upon plastics. Their ideas are detailed in this blog of 20th April 2021 https://opcamelontamfourhill.co.uk/2021/04/20/

It is rather disturbing when you take a moment to reflect upon how climate change will affect the communities of Camelon and Tamfourhill; Climate Change will significantly impact upon our :safety in the outdoors, our safety in the home and upon our personal health and  wellbeing, I attended a recent community safety webinar and here is a concerning list drawn up by the participants of how climate change will affect us locally:

• Regular flooding of our homes and streets and communal spaces like parks.
• Increased spread of disease through broken sanitation and sewage systems.
• Accidents and drownings through flooding.
• A significant increase to the cost of our home insurance.
• Erosion of the land and fertility of the soil.
• Disruption to our transport networks and infrastructures greatly reducing our mobility and connectedness.
• Wildfires and the  destruction of forests.
• Unsafe and polluted  beaches.
• Civil unrest, increase  in criminality and anti-social behaviour.
• Isolation, mental health issues and a higher incidence of drug and alcohol dependency.
• Harder to access health and social care services.
• Economic disruption leading to unemployment and  increased levels of poverty.

I think I will stop there as this list is extensive and to be honest never ending , these circumstances get worse as these affects will not be experienced universally as those already disadvantaged by inequalities:  in health, poor housing and poverty will be much worse affected by the climate emergency than those geographic areas and communities that are socially and economically better off. In other words, If you live in an already socially and economically  disadvantaged community then to use a rather unfortunate and overused cliché: this is the perfect storm.  

Cop 26 in Glasgow offers some hope of dialogue with resultant  action on a global macro level, but in terms of community safety we also need to be taking local actions immediately and with absolute urgency. I would want to positively  emphasise  that as individuals, families, and communities that we can be a part of the solution and that we can play a critical role in bringing about the changes that our planet requires through our immediate local actions. The current crises impacts on us locally, but the solutions involve actions at distinct levels , the solutions to this Climate Crises are therefore  dynamic and interdependent:

• Macro, Global  & Structural : This is where the onus is on national governments ,however  we must ensure they act and listen to our concerns and demands. Multinational companies and governments (local & national )  must be held to account , it’s  the current economic system versus  the planet, as individuals and communities we must keep pressure on the decision makers and our elected representatives from Community Councils, the Local Authorities and through to our governments in Edinburgh and London. We need greater fairness, and we need to combat poverty and inequality , we need economic and climate justice for our most vulnerable  local communities.
• Local: & Community:  The actions we take locally are critically important and we can look no further than to some of the ideas and strategies identified by the young people who took part in our canal clear up workshops for a source of direct action and activity. The establishment of our #tidycleangreen group (https://opcamelontamfourhill.co.uk/tidycleangreen/ ) is an excellent example of the types of activity that we need in order  to look after our communal green spaces and parks, to tidy them up and keep  them greener and cleaner thus facilitating sustainability and greater biodiversity. Community growing projects and establishing local food production and distribution networks can contribute to combating poverty especially  through aligning these initiatives with the local food pantry’s. As a community we can  encourage positive  behaviour change through promoting  positive nudge activities, and this particular approach will be addressed locally in the near future  through the #tidycleangreen groups creative messaging project which has been made possible through the funds the Group secured from the Councils Environmental Improvement Fund.  Local youth workers and community activists can take part in carbon literacy training, and we can then start to run our Community Hubs and buildings on a net zero basis, reducing our carbon footprints and delivering services locally that are sustainable and have no negative environmental impacts. An opportunity currently exists  through the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) The  application process is now open and  Keep Scotland Beautiful will be  supporting several communities to develop their own unique plan to address the climate emergency. Full details can be found here: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/news/oct-2021/applications-for-community-climate-action-plan-programme-now-open/ The programme will involve a set of workshops with community members, empowering them to find opportunities for climate action in all areas of community life. 
• Individual & personal: This  is about changes to our own behaviours and everyday actions,  and this is where the  process of community and societal change often begins ,this can be about recycling or upcycling, taking part in a litter pick or some guerrilla gardening , it might involve campaigning work or just ensuring we separate  our rubbish out for the appropriate bin collections.

Here are some useful  links which are especially relevant as Scotland and Glasgow hosts cop26 for the next 2 weeks:

Links and further information from  :

https://www.iacdglobal.org/2021/11/01/

https://www.gov.scot/news/cop26/

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/community-and-place/cop26-scottish-youth-climate-programme/

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/keep-scotland-beautiful-at-cop26/

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/climate-change/climate-change/climate-emergency-training/

Tamfourhill Youth Group with the assistance of McDonalds Restaurants on Glasgow Road carried out a litter pick at the Juniors Car Park on the morning of Wednesday 13^th October, and this was greatly appreciated as it fully prepared that location for the Gather and Play event scheduled for the Friday. The Group worked tirelessly  to clear the area of rubbish. McDonalds who are taking their commitment to keeping Camelon and Tamfourhill #tidycleangreen very seriously and they awarded the group and the volunteers with a complimentary lunch and drink back at the restaurant. A big think you to Rachael at McDonalds for her hospitality and also thanks to the hard work of herself and staff team to help the youth group rid the CJFC car park of detritus , rubbish and fly tipping, and yes, we did find a McDonald’s drinks cartoon in the bushes, and it was duly removed and binned.   

After the Group were fully fed and watered, we all walked up through Easter Carmuirs Park to the Falkirk Wheel where the group would conclude the programme of canal clear ups which had been funded though the Great Place Falkirk Heritage Lottery Project. The Canal Clear ups had begun back in April of this year and have run consistently throughout the year with groups from the local schools: Carmuirs Primary, St Mungo’s Secondary, Youth Groups from Tamfourhill Community Hub along with a family group and a delegation from the Forth Valley Recovery community that have all participated and made a massive contribution to keeping the canal and the  towpaths #tidycleangreen.

Credit is especially due to the Spar stores on Camelon Main Street who have made a very generous donation to the catering at the Gather and Play day and also the Community Fun Day in Easter Carmuirs Park , and McDonalds restaurants who have supported two recent community litter picks and provided tremendous hospitality for the young volunteers

The autumnal sun shone on a day of greening , creativity and safe place making at the car park area of Camelon Juniors Football Club. The location  historically has  had a negative reputation for anti-social behaviour, so the Community Safety Event: Gather & Play was organised to encourage a new perception and experience of how the location could be used safely and redeveloped for the betterment of the local community.  Camelon Arts Project facilitated workshops which focused upon  hands on creativity that identified themes which could be further developed into local permanent public art works , they also provided  tote bag designing and a display of local peoples sign writing and these activities all contributed to the days creative themes. A community artist led an all Games Allowed session which involved inventing new streets games and the Tidy, Clean and Green Group provided a pop-up park with children’s games and a bulb planting stall. There was a very informative stall form Frog life,  and the staff and young learners form Camelon Early Years and Childcare centre had a detailed exhibition of their community involvement.

Camelon Juniors Social Club provided everybody who attended with a fabulous lunch, and this was a magnificent catering effort to feed and water the 150 plus local people who came to take part in the days programme. 

The Community Safety Engager form the Our Place Camelon & Tamfourhill Project facilitated a participative workshop where young people , children and families could discuss and offer their s  visions and aspirations for the making the area safer and to also consider how the location could be transformed from being a community safety  problem into a positive community asset.  A prominent theme was the need for a safe play area for younger children and suggestions as to how the area could be better landscaped to include a seated relaxed social space but also with an area where children could build dens and have safe adventurous  play in the  outdoors. Traffic concerns and the dangers of children having to play in the nearby streets was raised consistently and it was highlighted that local people and other agencies could work together with the aim of  addressing these issues, realise aspirations and form partnerships which could  enable some of these community safety priorities to be successfully and creatively resolved.

Work will continue and further community meetings and activities will be arranged which encourages ongoing discussions and also brings people together to consider a plan of action so that some of these community aspirations for the Camelon Juniors Car Park  might be realised. This is the start of a journey, and the Our Place project will be there to support local people to take whatever course of action they feel is the most appropriate and useful.

For further information or to get more involved please contact: John R Hosie: Community Safety Engager for Our Place Camelon & Tamfourhill on 07391524528 or email at:  communitysafetyengager@tamfourhilltro.co.uk 

A hands-on day of games, greening, safe place making and art

Friday 15^th October 11am-4pm at Camelon Juniors Football Ground Car Park

The Camelon Juniors Football Club Car Park and its immediate environs have historically been viewed as a problematic area for the local community with a longstanding high incidence of anti-social behaviour . The situation was exacerbated last year when a fire badly damaged a container within the football ground which was being used as a temporary changing room facility due to the COVID pandemic. This concern for the location and the security of the football club were consistent themes that were raised through the local community safety consultations that took place throughout 2020 and early 2021, and in response to these specific community safety concerns  a multi-agency group was convened by Falkirk Council to look at strategic solutions for both the security of the football club and improving the location for the benefit of the wider community. The local community safety strategy  advocates a partnership approach with a focus upon community-based solutions and in this context, it was advocated that:  a community engagement and development process involving all the local stakeholders  was required as this would be  the most effective way of transforming the space from being a negative location into a community asset

The Our Place Camelon & Tamfourhill Community Safety Engager therefore  began an engagement process with the key stakeholders.

 A tenants survey took place in  Jan/Feb 2021 which  confirmed that local tenants would like to see the area transformed through creative and green projects. The football club were supportive of this approach and in particular were keen to see the perimeter wall of the Football ground upgraded in a creative way and to encourage the wider community to participate with that process.

Throughout May/July 2021 further audits of the spaces  and consultations with stakeholders and local tenants  took place to collect views and ideas as to  how that location could be reimagined, redeveloped, and better used. This included children’s street games taking place on the car park and an ongoing commitment from the Tidy, clean and Green Group and the Forth Valley Recovery Community to keep the area cleared of litter and dog mess and further support form Falkirk Council has seen the installation of temporary CCTV and the clearance of the overgrown area next to the canal towpath. 

The sustainable long-term solution to this area will necessitate a collaborative approach and with the involvement and commitment of the Camelon Arts Project, along with Our Place Camelon & Tamfourhill, The Tidy, Clean & Green Group and community artist Mark Bleakley’s  All Games Allowed Project, the next phase of this engagement process will take place on Friday 15^th October when there will be the Gather & Play Community Safety Event:  This will involve a day of drop-in creative workshops and games, cleaning and greening, and temporary interventions at Camelon Junior’s car park .This is a bit of a taste and try day where local people can come and experience some of the ideas that have already been suggested  to improve the car park and its surrounding area: The drop-in event will run from 11am – 4pm and will include the following workshops from Camelon Arts:

• All Games Allowed with Mark Bleakley
• Tote bag printing with Alice Dansey-Wright
• Mural painting workshop based upon the football grounds perimeter wall with Gregor Horne & Theo Christy (Gallery Malmo)
• A temporary exhibition of Canal College Artists’ sign paintings
• The launch of our Camelon and Tamfourhill calendar.

In addition

• The Tidy, Clean & Green Community Group  will host their first pop up park with children’s games, and this will  provide an opportunity for families and children to experience what a safe play area and family social space might be like at that location.
• There will be food and drink provided free of charge,
• A great prize can be won  for a day out at the Falkirk Wheel.

Most importantly the Event will provide opportunities for further discussions and engagement  to take place with the community safety engager, Camelon Arts , the supporting artists, the Tidy, Clean and Green Group  and with Falkirk Council. The longer-term aim is to establish a community  agreed plan which will contribute to making this area safer, and to also listen to peoples wider aspirations for their neighbourhood, hopefully the Gather & Play approach will inspire more  local people to get directly involved with that community development process.  

Reallocation of Street Space and safer use of our neighbourhoods

To acknowledge last weeks national #CarFreeDay I thought it was worthwhile to revisit this Blog from exactly one year ago in September 2021.

Traffic and roads is one of the local community safety themes with car usage and a lack of safe crossing locations being a notable concern for the community. During the COVID lockdown people have enjoyed taking to the streets on foot, bicycle, skateboard and scooter and the clean air and quieter roads have had many health and well being benefits. The development of our local community safety strategy will be required to create and sustain this new social and health positivity. A possible and very practical means of achieving this would be for Camelon and Tamfourhill to become Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. This may mean roads being closed for periods of the day, for example outside local schools so that overtime there is a culture change where we no longer expect there to be motor vehicles within a given distance from any school. As the wearing of seat belts and drink driving are no longer considered to be sociably acceptable so will the presence of cars near schools be expected or allowed. The benefits are many , the safety of our children and young people and a reduction on the school car run and its environmental damage, healthier parents and children as walking and cycling become the new school run.

Consider how you and your family could benefit from a living in a Low Traffic Neighbourhood.

In my role as community safety engager I have been invited to participate in regular multi agency discussions chaired by the Leader of Falkirk Council Cecil Meiklejohn , this will put various local community safety issues onto the agenda and in particular the issue of road safety and traffic management will be a priority consideration for this Group. As always my focus will be to put the community at the front and centre of any new safety initiatives, so please watch this space for opportunities to be involved with shaping particular plans and actions.

Often our problems are ones of perception and if we change the view then we can change the narrative. I therefore would propose that instead of putting up big aggressive signs that say a road or street is closed that we put up cheerful signs that exclaim the road or street is open to : walking, cycling, skateboarding , wheel chair access and just about any form of sports, games and exercise, this below is the kind of signage that I am talking about:

My colleague Dan was recently highlighting the Road Safety Trust who will provide funds for councils and communities to devise, plan and implement improvements to road safety and this could be one avenue we pursue locally in order to improve road and traffic safety.

I want to finish this week on a high note and ask you to consider what it might be like if we began to transform our neighbourhood into a Low Traffic neighbourhood. On the 15th October we will launch our first #tidycleangreen pop up park as part of the Gather and Play event at the Juniors Car park, this will be a strictly no car allowed but all games allowed event, a low traffic neighbourhood in action, please come down and have a look and enjoy the space in a creative, safe and green way.

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I have been involved in recent discussions about the provision of safe play facilities for younger children and families and this has become an emerging theme in relation to the local community safety agenda. This matter will be raised again over the coming weeks and will be significant in relation to the Gather and Play Event which is scheduled for the CJFC car park and surrounding area on 15th October 2021. I will be writing a detailed blog about this event nearer the time but for now I thought it was worthwhile to look back to a section from a previous blog where I was promoting the importance of outdoor learning and play for children and the need for our communities to have safe play spaces

John Muir the Scottish conservationist and an advocate of children’s play and exploration in the wildness of the outdoors and who I have quoted in the title of this article knew the value and necessity for younger people to engage fully with and explore their natural environment. Post Covid I believe we need to be championing the cause for greater outdoor learning for children and families and acknowledge the healing power of the outdoors. There are a variety of local opportunities where young people could potentially better engage with their outdoor environment and where they could recapture a sense of wildness and freedom which is uniquely gained from unstructured and unsupervised play in the great outdoors.   

If we consider the landscape of our outdoor parks, open spaces, and common grounds in Tamfourhill and Camelon and then ask, are they safe and conducive to allowing our children and young people to explore, take calculated risks and bond with their peers and allow them to affirm with the natural world, and if the answer is, they are not, then they must be a local community safety concern. This perspective was echoed in the community safety survey and has been highlighted in Focus groups and with some of the agencies that I have met with, rubbish, fly tipping, detritus, drug use and Anti-social behaviour have all been sited as reasons why our open spaces and common grounds might not be considered safe. Another historical factor at play here has been the steady erosion of available open spaces for children to play. In Scotland since the industrial revolution children have one ninth of the roaming room they had in earlier generations. Childhood is losing its ancient commons of woodlands, parks, and heaths and with the modern fixation with using technology, devices and computer screens that alienation from the natural outdoor world has been further accentuated. Play for children has become enclosed indoors whilst outdoors signs and messaging bark at children like vicious guard dogs: NO CYCLING, NO SKATEBOARDING, NO BALL GAMES, NO SWIMMING, PRIVATE KEEP OUT!!!! These mantras require to be challenged and this is touched upon through a current Project that is being carried out by my colleague and commissioned community artist Mark Bleakley called “All Games Allowed” and this project will be an important part of the Gather and Play event taking place next month at the CJFC Car park. Needless to say it turns the No ball games allowed approach on its head and creates a contrary safe space where younger children’s street games in public spaces are positively encouraged . I will return again to this activity and wider event nearer the time.

In the months ahead it makes considerable sense to be encouraging greater outdoor experiences, for us all, but especially for our children and young people. I know there will be genuine concerns that leaving children unsupervised in open and wild spaces is far to risky and increases stress levels for parents and family members. It would however be legitimate to ask the question the other way around, can we afford not to allow and encourage this in the post COVID world? There is a balancing act required but for certain the wellbeing and mental recovery of children and young people must be the critical and determining factor. The safety of our open spaces must be a local community safety concern and the provision of safe play facilities for families and children and priority.

“As part of a wider recovery
process, children should be
encouraged and supported to spend
time outdoors, playing with other
children and being physically active,”
say Play First UK. “This is not an
either-or decision. Social connection
and play offer myriad learning
opportunities and are positively
associated with children’s academic
attainment and literacy.”