Sarah Munro, BBC E20 Programme Manager (a project to rebuild the EastEnders external set) volunteered with Hertsmere Youth Network to help community workers strengthen their communication skills when writing about their projects.
‘I found it creative that the community identified their own solutions and that I got a chance to share my experiences.’
In my day job, I’m the Programme Manager for the E20 project, which is responsible for delivering the new EastEnders external set. Before joining the BBC, I worked for the police and central government and led on a variety of subjects which included criminal justice, forensics and technology. In the past I have secured investment in the police force and the BBC World Service, and as part of the E20 Programme we are committed to working with the local community. So when this opportunity came along to support the community I work in, it felt perfect to team up with BBC Outreach.
My brief for the workshop was to share my experience, and to facilitate a group discussion on powerful communication in writing cases for community-led projects. These projects support young people in the local area. My own experience was a good match to this subject matter, and I enjoyed working with charities and organisations that are local to my workplace at BBC Elstree. The group was made up of a mix of local organisations involved in the welfare of young people in the area and included youth networks, sports clubs and emergency services.
The workshop was both welcoming and engaging. The session was really successful; the group where enthusiastic and the people were full of energy. All of their ideas were around improving the lives of young people in the area, especially those with particular needs or who had unfortunate circumstances. The group had great ideas and knowledge that they shared together in order to support each other.
I found it creative that the community identified their own solutions and that I got a chance to share my own experiences. It was so interesting in the way different investment avenues were explored even though not all group members had heard of them. Some organisations had even found creative ways in which they can collaborate in the future. Working on the project reminded me of just how important it is to value public investment.
Overall from this experience I learnt the power of collective learning. Most of the solutions to the issues raised came from the people in the room, and were based on their own experiences. At the end of the session the group appeared really motivated and far more joined up.
My team and I are working on the redevelopment of the EastEnders set and we need all the support and understanding we can get from the local Borehamwood community, as we embark on this major construction project. This is just one of the many ways we can return the goodwill and develop an even closer relationship with our local neighbours.
BBC Outreach & Corporate Responsibility brings the BBC closer to its audiences - particularly those audiences we have identified as harder to reach - with face-to-face activity, community support and staff volunteering.
