|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hanley Case StudyHanley's interest in the Dreamscheme began in October 2000. Following the formation of Hanley Area Tenant's Association, representatives from the group attended a meeting in Middleport to hear about their Dreamscheme, recently started through Touchstone Housing Association.Their enthusiasm for the concept was immediate and by December 2000 they had reached an agreement with Touchstone, who provided a house in Denbigh Street, Hanley, as the group's meeting place. Their work started in earnest in January 2001 when Hanley Group Management Committee received Level 1 Dreamscheme Training, and by April 'Project 79 Day' (named after the house number in Denbigh Street allocated to them) kicked off the Dreamscheme idea with the kids in the area decorating the house and planting a garden. At this early stage over 30 kids registered. In June 2001 the group received publicity over their successful "Wall Project", where graffiti in the area was painted over by the young people. The article was published in Touchstone's Tenant magazine and acted as a wonderful alternative to the negative publicity received by Hanley in recent years, stories of murder, prostitution, drugs and bad race relations and riots. The Hanley Dreamscheme story eventually made the front page of Stoke's local paper 'The Sentinel' as a good news story! In July 2001 'Project 79' opened as a drop-in centre for young people to call in 2 hours per day during the week except Wednesdays. The project house is 'staffed' exclusively by local residents on a purely voluntary basis. Hanley is now one of the most successful dreamschemes in the North and acts as an inspiration for other groups. For more information, or to speak to someone from Hanley, contact the Dreamscheme Network on (0161) 953 4095. |
|
|
|
|
