Pete showed up.......

Pete hasn't worked for more than 35 years. He had a tragic accident on a building site during which he lost his leg. Pete can't read or write and lives at home with his carer/ partner. He has been coming to a community project I run Happy Mondays on the local high street in Ramsgate for more than 1 year. Mostly it is the only activity he attends each week, he helps make the tea, he brings art materials to share with the group and is a valued member of our Happy Monday team.

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE will be a programme of mini public realm place activation's in Ramsgate to improve neglected spaces, bring the community together and share knowledge on the https://lnkd.in/eTu9ZMry

Our first one is taking place the Thursday 20th March 3pm - 6pm, also celebrating hashtag#internationaldayofhappiness hashtag#worldrewildingday. I invited the group to help me get things ready for the day. 

Pete showed up....

He was there early in fact! He bought some tools on his mobility scooter and we set about painting the hoardings, clearing the weeds and rubbish.

See how proud he is...

It makes me think about one of the winners of #TheBayAwards last year at #Wrldcty24 in Bilbao. .

South Africa’s Social Employment Fund (SEF) https://www.idc.co.za/sef/ addresses unemployment by enabling local organizations to create publicly-funded jobs that meet community needs and promote the common good. Initiatives include urban food gardens, safety patrols, early childhood development, public art, educational support, legal aid for gender violence victims, re-wilding urban rivers, and providing GPS addresses in informal settlements.

Is there another way?.... lots of people in the Happy Mondays group yesterday were anxious about the changes in the benefits allocation. 

Could our #XID (Experience Improvement District) pilot help to create a fund where our Happy Mondays group (between 30 - 40 adults who are unable to work due to physical or mental health) are supported to work in meaningful ways that improve our town?