Project type: New Community Facility
Client: Sheppey Heritage Trust
Background to the project
The Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation was appointed in December 2006, by Sheppey Heritage Trust, to undertake a community consultation exercise to support the development of the final stage application to the Big Lottery Living Landmarks Fund for the Flying Start Project. The Flying Start Project is both innovative and ambitious and seeks to mark the Isle of Sheppey’s place in aviation history by developing a facility that is of local, national and international interest. Bill Croydon, Secretary of Sheppey Heritage Trust said “not only will Flying Start be a focal point for Sheppey’s heritage, it will also present major benefits for the area’s tourism industry and provide skills and training opportunities for the local community”.
The Flying Start Project will be located in Eastchurch, which is where the original aircraft factory moved to in late 1909. The first flights and building of the first planes, in the UK, actually took place in nearby Leysdown in early 1909, but because the land in Eastchurch was better suited to this type of operation, moved to the site later that year. The original hanger in Eastchurch is currently located on land occupied by HMP but is now available for purchase by Sheppey Heritage Trust.
There is a strong relationship with HMPs on the Isle of Sheppey and well established ways of working with prisoners and the local Eastchurch community. It is envisaged that this will continue in the new Flying Start Project, with some prisoners from the Open Prison benefiting from increased training opportunities and involvement in visitor-facing roles (the latter will be closely managed and supervised).
The purpose of the consultation was to promote the opportunities that could be provided within this new landmark facility for local people and visitors to the Island. In addition, local people were also able to highlight facilities and training opportunities that could be provided within the new facility that would fill existing gaps and benefit people of all ages and abilities. As there is a strong training element proposed within the Flying Start Project, it was crucial that the consultation was targeted to enable the views of young people to be gathered as well. By engaging local people at this stage of the project’s development, Flying Start are ensuring that there is ‘local ownership’ of this facility and a commitment from the surrounding community to take advantage of the opportunities provided and therefore ensuring its long term sustainability.
For more information contact NIF on 01952 590777 or email admin@nif.co.uk
