The idea is that we’ll really get to know a neighbourhood, try to make practical, useful changes and make sure that lots of different voices from that area find their way onto the airwaves.

It’s a simple idea, but we’ll need your help to make it work. Sometimes we’ll be hoping for your expertise, sometimes for your time or materials, but if we explain what we’re up to, and where, you’ll see why we can’t do it alone.

We’ve homed in on an area in Alvaston, attracted by the way in which local residents were already getting together to make things happen.

Carol Wall, for example, was exasperated at the number of times stray footballs landed in her garden, and decided to round up the players and enlist them in Booth Street F.C.

Carol Wall

In exchange for organised sessions on the park, members of the club had to make pledges: I will not play football in the street. I will take a drink (not fizzy) to the park. I will not use bad language. I will tidy my bedroom (generally agreed to be the hardest promise...)

There are now 42 members, and Carol has passed the baton on to John Foy, one of the parents, who is keen to tackle training, and is already set to enter an under 10’s side in the Sunday league.

So, we’ll be following the progress of the club and trying to help them acquire the skills and equipment, and playing space they need. "Derby Loans" has already kitted out the under 10 side, but other sponsors will be more than welcome.

Now the football club’s not the only activity on Booth Street. The residents are currently in the process of forming their own Residents Association, with its own constitution.

Again, we’ll be following their progress, and ready to help with any tasks they decide to undertake. If you already have a thriving local association you may be able to offer a bit of advice on our noticeboard.

A couple of streets above Booth street is the Southgate Community Centre. It’s a well established centre, and has a busy schedule of classes and assorted sessions.

When we talked to the man at the hub of it, Andy Griffiths, he was enthusiastic about the different groups of people who descended on it regularly.

But! He was keen to encourage even more people to use it, especially people in their 60’s and over. So, we said we’d help him to find out what sessions and activities people would like to see offered - what would tempt them along.

With luck we should be able to increase the menu over the next weeks. Oh, and Andy did mention that he can offer free trips out, if folk can decide where they would like to go. Chatsworth anyone? Skegness?

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