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Co-creating the Common Ground for Our Community: Enhancing Rafford Village Hall's Outdoor Space
Co-creating a Vibrant Community Space: Enhancing Rafford Village Hall's Outdoor Area
We are delighted to host the upcoming "Rafford Growing Roots: Participatory Co-Design Workshop for Village Hall Outdoor Space" event. This initiative aims to engage our local Rafford residents and Rafford Village Hall regular users in envisioning how we can transform our village hall's outdoor area to complement our thriving indoor community space. Led by Regenerative Innovation Expert and Landscape Designer Isabella Guerrini de Claire, this workshop promises to be an engaging and productive experience for all participants.
What To Bring:
Your creative ideas and innovative input
Local knowledge and expertise about what is and isn’t working with the Village Hall’s playfield
Enthusiasm for community development and sustainable practices
A willingness to collaborate and share diverse perspectives
What To Expect:
A collaborative environment fostering open dialogue and idea-sharing
Professional guidance and inspiration from local experts in various fields
An opportunity to actively shape the future of our shared community outdoor space
Innovative design techniques to capture and prioritise our collective ideas
Event Schedule:
THE BIG PICTURE (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM):
Immerse yourself in our co-creative and participatory group visioning session. We'll utilise a detailed map of the current outdoor area, complete with thought-provoking prompts to generate potential features for our community garden. These will include the children's garden and play equipment, the living willow structure, and the existing football pitch.
We encourage you to let your imagination run wild as we explore additional features and co-productions. Consider the possibilities of a community picnic area fully equipped... or even if we want to go even bigger, as a farmers' market location, orchard, a community greenhouse, a local food processing shed with all the required tools for community food ideas, a star-gazing observatory, a pollinator and regenerative flower meadow, a garden with meditation pathways... and more! Together, we'll discuss the challenges and benefits of each idea, ensuring a well-rounded approach to our design.
Amy Neville and Karen Collins of Rafford’s Naturally Useful will kick-start the session by sharing examples and collaborate with the community to identify optimal designs and locations for a living willow structure installation that will live in the field for years to come. This living sculpture will be planted and maintained by the community under the guidance of Naturally Useful on 25th and 26th January 2025, adding a unique, natural element to our Village Hall’s garden for years to come.
To capture the essence of our collective imagination, local graphics designer Rosie Balyuzi will provide live doodling throughout the session. This visual representation will serve as a dynamic record of our creative process, helping to bring our ideas to life, and providing a tangible reference for future development stages.
POTLUCK LUNCH (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM):
We invite all participants to contribute to our community meal. This relaxed setting provides an excellent opportunity to continue discussions, forge new connections with fellow community members, and reflect on the morning's activities in a convivial atmosphere. Please bring a dish to share, if possible, to celebrate our local culinary traditions and foster a sense of community.
DROP-IN FEEDBACK SESSION (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM):
Unable to attend the morning session? No worries! We welcome you to stop by during our drop-in hours. You'll have the chance to view the ideas generated earlier and contribute your own thoughts to the evolving design. Your input is valuable, regardless of when you can join us, ensuring that our community space truly represents the diverse needs of Rafford Village and our Village Hall & Field user community.
By coming together, we can create a community outdoor space that will stand as a testament to the spirit of Rafford. This beautiful, functional area will serve our community for generations to come, promoting sustainability, biodiversity, and social cohesion. We eagerly anticipate your participation in this transformative project that will enhance our village's outdoor space, strengthen our community bonds, and create a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Will there be other opportunities for community members to voice their opinions? Yes, there will be additional follow-up events, surveys, and volunteer opportunities in the near future. This is Rafford’s Village Hall and playfield, so everyone’s voice matters in its evolution!
We eagerly anticipate your participation in this transformative project! Your involvement will help ensure that our village hall's outdoor space truly reflects the needs, desires, and values of our community. Together, we can create a lasting legacy that will enrich the lives of Rafford residents for years to come.
We need you!
Let's work together to create a space that everyone can enjoy! Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference in our community.
See you there!
Who will be facilitating the workshop?
Leading the workshop will be Isabella Guerrini de Claire of Burgie, experienced Workshop Facilitator, Landscape Designer and Regenerative Sustainability Advisor.
Isabella is also the Project Coordinator for Rafford's Growing Roots, bringing her expertise and passion for sustainable practices to the event and the project.
Will there be other opportunities for community members to voice their opinions?
Yes, there will be additional follow-up events, surveys, and volunteer opportunities in the new year, starting with a willow structure planting with Naturally Useful on January 25th and 26th, 2025.
This event is part of the "Rafford's Growing Roots Project" and free of charge thanks to generous funding by the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund with Moray Council.
Residents of Rafford or Moray are the target audience of this grant-funded initiative, therefore completing all fields when booking is required to secure your spot.
This event is free and open to all ages
The Rafford's Growing Roots project places great importance on involving and engaging members of the local community in the nature and roots of our village, however anyone from Moray is welcome to attend.
Charity Details:
Rafford Village Public Hall, SC015233
Registered charity from 01 June 1990
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Rafford Village Hall, Forres, United Kingdom
Tickets
