Woolwich Common Estate Improvement Project shortlisted for LGC Award
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been shortlisted for the Community Involvement Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Award for our pilot project to engage and empower residents on the Woolwich Common Estate.
The Community Involvement Award is for councils which have demonstrated community engagement to build relationships with local people to co-design services to meet their needs.
The Woolwich Common Estate Improvement Project, in partnership with the Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency (GCDA) and DG Cities, inspired residents to take more control of the safety, security and look and feel of their estate.
Councillor Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport said: “It’s been inspiring to see the transformation of the green spaces and recreational areas on the Woolwich Common Estate, so it’s amazing to be recognised for the council’s hard work on this project.
“The project not only transformed the look of the estate and encouraged sustainable environmentally friendly practices which reduced littering and fly-tipping, but also improved residents’ physical and mental wellbeing, fostering a greater sense of community.”
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: “This project demonstrates how councils can effectively work with communities to deliver impactful and sustainable change that addresses real challenges, so I’m proud that we have made the shortlist at the LGC Awards.
“As a result of this community engagement work, residents reported that they felt safer on their estate, with cleaner spaces and increased patrols contributing to a greater sense of security. The educational workshops resulted in a noticeable reduction in anti-social behaviour, including littering and fly-tipping.”
Over the course of 12 months, residents took part in several clear-up days with the council’s caretaking team, resulting in 10.5 tonnes of rubbish being collected in total. Residents got involved in gardening and participated in educational workshops, including one on how residents can reduce the problem of dog fouling on the estate. The project also introduced dedicated dog areas and extra dog waste bins were installed.
Recycling and waste management workshops also took place to educate residents on sustainable recycling and waste disposal practices, this was complemented by the installation of additional bins to reduce littering and fly-tipping.
TARU Arts collaborated with residents to produce artwork made from recycled materials to display on the estate. This involved workshops with children and families which helped to educate and inspire young residents and contributed to the well-being of families in the community.
After concerns were raised about levels of anti-social behaviour on the estate, the council increased Community Safety Enforcement Officer patrols to improve feelings of safety on the estate.
The project also served as a way of upskilling residents so they could explore employment opportunities with GCDA, resulting in the creation of three jobs; a full-time receptionist, a community gardener and a role working on the council’s holiday meals programme at the Woolwich Common Community Centre.
The LGC Awards celebrate outstanding practice and cutting-edge innovations from local government organisations. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will take place on 11 June 2025 at Grosvenor House, London.