Market square in Old Fordon – return to meetings
Civic participation
Completed
kujawsko-pomorskie
Bydgoszcz
City Hall Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Community Council Stary Fordon, Bydgoszcz, Poland
2014-09-01 - 2016-01-31
361 221,05 PLN
324 305,24 PLN
local government, revitalisation, spatial planning, community engagement
Project description
Stary Fordon is one of the most neglected districts of Bydgoszcz - with the highest unemployment rate and numbers of inhabitants depending on social assistance. The process of degradation started in the 1970s, when the small 600 years-old town was arbitrarily incorporated into its bigger neighbour.
UKW Foundation persuaded inhabitants and the city authorities to develop a program of revitalisation. The program was to set specific aims and changes to be implemented in Stary Fordon in the coming years.
Activities started with creating a meeting place for inhabitants. The social clubroom Cafe Rynek was opened in an empty premises by the market square, which also became the place of project's team daily work. Then a professional diagnosis of problems in Stary Fordon was performed, and gave the participants an opportunity to work in five thematic teams to develop possible solutions. Each team gathered inhabitants, city officers and external experts. 250 persons out of approximately 1200 inhabitants of the district took part in meetings and work of the teams. Cooperation with all NGOs, informal groups and local institutions started.
The organisation was supported by partners - the Town Hall and the housing complex council. Their representatives actively participated in the development of the strategy. The results of joint work - the Social Program for Revitalisation of Stary Fordon - was presented to the local community during general meeting accompanied by a district festival. Based on the Program the city authorities prepared the list of investments and changes in the district. The housing complex council is the leader of social consultations with active participation of participants of our activities. Stary Fordon will soon face great changes based on the strategy developed during the project. The lasting effect of Foundation's activities is also the manual "Recipe for revitalisation", printed in 200 copies. Experiences of the project were presented during meetings with other housing complex councils from Bydgoszcz and municipal councils in its neighbourhood.
We use the grant for capacity building
UKW Foundation persuaded inhabitants and the city authorities to develop a program of revitalisation. The program was to set specific aims and changes to be implemented in Stary Fordon in the coming years.
Activities started with creating a meeting place for inhabitants. The social clubroom Cafe Rynek was opened in an empty premises by the market square, which also became the place of project's team daily work. Then a professional diagnosis of problems in Stary Fordon was performed, and gave the participants an opportunity to work in five thematic teams to develop possible solutions. Each team gathered inhabitants, city officers and external experts. 250 persons out of approximately 1200 inhabitants of the district took part in meetings and work of the teams. Cooperation with all NGOs, informal groups and local institutions started.
The organisation was supported by partners - the Town Hall and the housing complex council. Their representatives actively participated in the development of the strategy. The results of joint work - the Social Program for Revitalisation of Stary Fordon - was presented to the local community during general meeting accompanied by a district festival. Based on the Program the city authorities prepared the list of investments and changes in the district. The housing complex council is the leader of social consultations with active participation of participants of our activities. Stary Fordon will soon face great changes based on the strategy developed during the project. The lasting effect of Foundation's activities is also the manual "Recipe for revitalisation", printed in 200 copies. Experiences of the project were presented during meetings with other housing complex councils from Bydgoszcz and municipal councils in its neighbourhood.
