Oatfield Close

A special road-sign, which has been designed by local children, was put up in Oatfield Close in Stanway on Thursday 28th May 2009. The sign was part of a community project organised by Colchester Borough Homes.

The project began last year to try and bridge the generation gap between the older residents of the road, who live in Sheltered Housing, and families with children. There had been complaints that children were kicking footballs into the entrance of the community hall, and that they were leaving bikes and scooters on pavements where people could trip up over them.

Colchester Borough Homes has been working with residents to try and solve these issues. Last year we asked people who live in the Close for their views, and brought the Essex Youth Bus to the area. We began the art project at the beginning of this year to get children and young people involved in their local community. We have also put on a social event for residents, and plan more.

Resident Involvement Officer, Nevina Williams, said “We held an art workshop earlier this year which the children really enjoyed. There were three generations of one family at the event, which was fantastic. We showed young people what they could achieve with the sign and used many of the ideas that they came up with. This is a good example of how we can use art to bridge the generation gap. The sign is for everyone to enjoy – from young to old.”

Community Initiatives Manager, Gill Thomson, said, “We are always looking for imaginative ways to engage with our communities, and art workshops are an example of this. Everyone loves the opportunity to show how creative they are. We are committed to working with local residents to improve the quality of life in our neighbourhoods .”