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“Local government needs courage and creativity and #townstock”Terry RyallChief Executive, vInspired

“There’s a rush of ‘community town centre’ conferences this week; I suspect that #townstock was the grounded, honest, activist one”Dan ThompsonAuthor, ‘Pop Up Business for Dummies’

80 ideas in 2 days5-6 November 2012, Halifax, West Yorkshire

#townstock

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In November 2012, 147 people from 50 towns came to Townstock. They brought experience from all over the UK, from community projects, local government and business.

The big message was that our high streets and town centres are far from dead, and that we already have the ideas to make them great again.

•

“Townstock: really inspiring stories of people using

shops, parks & streets to create places people want

to live in”Maria Adebowale

Director, Capital Global

There were more than 1,600 tweets and a hundred written messages of inspiration shared in the room.

Here are just 80 of those ideas.

This was made by

Jane Johnston www.redlab.co.ukJulian Dobson urbanpollinators.co.uk

With photos by Silvie Rackham & Sarah Goodwin, and the help of Sarah Murphy,

Amy Shepherd & Alistair Johnston

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Why organise a TownstockJane Johnston @jane_ston

“Many people, particularly local independent retailers, have asked me just why am I doing Townstock? What’s in it for me? There’s no one simple answer to this. I’m not a council employee. I have an internet shop.

My own business gave me the space to get involved with social enterprise Totally Locally. I saw this free initiative give communities positive ways to help their shops and markets, and the confidence to talk about the things that make their town home. Townstock is my response to the need to share support like this more widely.”

Read more: http://townstock.co.uk/why_am_i_doing_townstock/

Ideas for making town centres betterNew Start magazine joined forces with Townstock to find the best ideas for reviving town centres. The competition was open to projects that have already proven they can work and that can be replicated for a small budget in towns and cities across the UK

Winner #1 Mud Pies in Tottenham

A pop-up free play service on high streets in London. A London Play initiative that began as a response to cuts in play provision in the capital. The first Mud Pies etc was set up in a former council building on Tottenham high street that had been damaged during the riots. In an area where many families have no garden, it offers a space for kids to be creative in the outdoors.

Read more: http://www.londonplay.org.uk/document.php?document_id=1838

“How to build a #townstock? ‘It's easy -

find a phone, pick it up, talk to people.' Loved

every min - lots of food for thought!”

Fi Cunningham @Fiizumi

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Energise indie retail through collaborationPaul Turner-Mitchell Chair, Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation

Despite the fact we are facing some of the most economically challenging conditions many of us can remember, during the first half of 2012 more independent shops were opened than were closed down. Over 850 new indies appeared on our high streets. Compare that with the net closure of nearly 1,000 multiple shop closures.

There is a sense of momentum now and we have to build on that. It’s great seeing glossy supplements wax lyrical about the best independent shops in some of our major cities. And it’s wonderful reading about the deep love of independents in places like Totnes, Hay on Wye and Hebden Bridge. But we can’t rely on warm sentiment alone to transform our high streets. The momentum that’s building with independent shops needs to become a movement.

To do that we need more independents coming together under a common umbrella to create a powerful identity.

Read more here: http://emptyshops.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/indies-need-to-cluster-paul-turner-mitchell-at-townstock/

“Mentoring, smart marketing and collaboration - 3 top tips in an inspiring talk by Paul from Rochdale at #townstock on boosting our high streets”@rosie_i2si

“Great to see indie shop guru @paul25ten highlight #retailready as good project at #townstock”Dan Thompson @artistsmakers

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Pop up shops on our High Streets

Dan ThompsonAuthor, ‘Pop Up Business for Dummies’

Pop us are nothing new; the fireworks shop, the Christmas craft market, and even seaside shops which open for the summer season – and explain why seaside towns like Margate have a surplus of shops.

Pop ups are especially useful right now for the researching, testing, prototyping what comes next: ”Only a fool will build in defiance of the past. What is new and significant must always be grafted to the old roots, which are chosen with great care from the ones that merely survive. And what a slow and delicate process it is to distinguish radical vitality from the wastes of mere survival. But that is the only way to achieve progress instead of disaster”

And as part of that – failure is an acceptable outcome. Pop ups are agile, fast, and affordable and they make failure a possibility. Becket said ‘Try again, fail again, fail better’. 

Read more: http://emptyshops.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/the-high-street-isnt-dead-dan-thompson-at-townstock/

“Yes!!! RT@Shoportunities: ‘High streets should be places of celebration and community gathering, not just shopping.’ #townstock”Jamie at AMT @TownsAlive

Ideas from the Townstock audienceTime Credits in Chippenham and Salisbury

In Chippenham and Salisbury we are piloting ‘time credits’ as a way of thanking people for giving their time. They can then be spent (an hour for an hour) on a range of cultural leisure and other services and activities.

Six months in and one third of members are people that have never volunteered before. This includes people with learning difficulties, the homeless, and those with dementia. The lead agency who have developed the model are Spice.

Read more: Justaddspice.org

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The Spirit of TownstockJulian DobsonDirector, Urban Pollinators

It will take some serious rethinking of our local economies to make our town centres productive again. That will not happen quickly: there are few signs that central government is prepared to grasp the nettle, and local councils have battened down the hatches for another storm of spending cuts. Much as systemic change is required, it is not around the corner. That’s why the small scale and individual is so important: not because it changes the world on its own, but because it demonstrates visibly how the world can be changed.

That is the value and the importance of pop-up shops, of community owned assets, of a Totally Locally or Incredible Edible campaign. They all show that in the face of sometimes overwhelming challenges, life can be done differently. As Pam Warhurst pointed out, 'We've seen people who never thought they had a chance get a handle on their own future.' That’s the point and the spirit of Townstock.

Read more: http://livingwithrats.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-spirit-of-townstock.html

Ideas for making town centres betterWinner #2 Gloucester Night Market

In response to a residents’ consultation, which highlighted concerns with visiting the town centre in the evening, the council launched a night market. It gave 40 new traders a stall for free to test their ideas, asked big retailers to open late on the evening of the market, invited local communities to sell food and local cultural groups to perform on the stage. The mix of a market and entertainment kept people in the town centre for longer and turned it into an event for the whole community.

Read more: http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/YourCouncil/PressOffice/PressReleases/June2012/290612Night--market-for-Independence-Day.aspx

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‘Ask young people what they would like to create...’From the Townstock audience

‘Nelson Portas Pilot project could ask their young people what they would like to create themselves to get them into their town centres. Then offer funding, premises and support to assist their young people, enabling the sharing of existing skills within the community.’

‘Things I'm going to do because of Townstock1. Feed loads of fab ideas into planning for fledging social enterprise creating local jobs for young people.2. Make links with former colleagues working on the National Citizen Service - 30,000 16-17 year olds and around 60,000 next year fired up and enthused to get involved in social action close to where they live.’RT @Sarahrose2790:

‘Young people are not something wrong that needs to be fixed - they are assets.’ // Love this! #townstockVInspired @vinspired

“Need to keep 1 step ahead of digital if we are to engage with young people - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram so easy to do! #townstock”Street Angels - CNI @cninet

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Inspiring young people in our townsSarah Goodwin (22)

Young people are so passionate - they think first with their emotions and find it natural to speak out upon injustice, (this is what I LOVE about working with them). When we see young people as an asset - we can turn them into an opportunity by asking quote 'what are YOU passionate about and how can WE take action on that?’

Some inspiring ideas that came directly from young people were found in 'Teenage Markets' in Stockport set up by Joseph Barratt that used the creativity of its citizens to do something for and by young people. He spoke of 'collaborating and fusing generations' i.e. bringing people together to provide something new and fun for their area. I loved this idea as it put the power back into the hands of the young, young people thrive off being given responsibility and ownership - this is something we MUST invest in and encourage. 

Read more http://dontforgettosmelltheroses.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/townstock.html:

“Teenage market @joejamesbarratt

really inspiring and dynamic

presentation”Kate Longmate @katelongmate

“Running towns as if they are a business

is wrong. Turns citizens into mere

consumers. #townstock”Phil Wood @philwood11

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Ideas for making town centres betterWinner #3 Placecheck

Placecheck is a simple method for deciding how to improve an area. A Placecheck consists of one of more walkabouts, followed by discussion of the information and opinions the walkabouts turn up and some more serious thinking about the next steps and who needs to be involved. A Placecheck can be initiated by anyone without much preparation and can help put local people at the heart of making a better place to live and work.

Read more here: http://www.placecheck.info/

A community-led movementGemma Collins, Project Manager, 3VTV

There is a grassroots, community-led movement gaining momentum around the country. It’s made up of a myriad of schemes, projects, and enterprises with a common aim. And if one of them is not there already, I bet it will soon be making a difference in a town centre near you.

As I write this I’m on the train home from the Townstock conference in Halifax. For the past two days I’ve been energized and inspired by stories of how small towns around the country have been turning around their fortunes.

How? People-power. Big Society. Call it what you will – it boils down to the fact that local people – whether traders, residents, local government, young people – have got together and got on and done something to help their town.

Read more here: http://townstock.co.uk/town-centres-are-sexy-again-gemma-collins-on-townstock/

For Gemma’s hyper-local media project in Blaenau Gwent visit http://www.3vtv.co.uk/

“The dominant retail element of the high street is dying. But the high street ain’t dead, it abounds with non-retail possibilities! #townstock”Neil McInroy @nmcinroyCentre for Local Economic Strategies

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Ideas from the Townstock audienceHalifax Festival’s Knitted Graffiti

Knitted Graffiti was a project Halifax Festival did to encourage people to knit. It brought hundreds of people together to share knowledge and stories. Just shows how we all have something to share and communicate. Focus your mind to find a couple of hours a week out of our busy lives to do something that matters. Nurture confidence in others to do things.

Read more: http://www.halifaxfestival.co.uk/

“Expectations confirmed. Totally inspiring day at #townstock. Now going to get involved with #totallylocally”Charlotte McCormick

“Brighouse Business Initiative turfed the high street and held races and games the day the Olympic torch came to town #townstock”@ClareGoff

Moffat Let’s Live Local

Let’s Live Local has developed a community networking website - Moffat Online. We host events using online car boot and free share facilities, ways of connecting with other people’s passions and skills and interests.

We’ve helped do everything from develop groups, find lost dogs and get volunteers for local projects. We’re just starting with online neighbourhood watch notifications, working with the community police. We currently have 620 members!

Read more: http://www.letslivelocal.co.uk/

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“Civic enterprise very important today - statutory, business & voluntary/faith working together - vision for locality #townstock”Street Angels - CNI @cninet

From Townstock to NightstockPaul Blakey, Street Angels

Part of the vision of Street Angels - CNI Network is to see villages, towns and cities move from the binge culture to better. In over 100 towns across the UK we have seen the results of the local community getting on and doing something to tackle night-time problems: violent crime, sexual assaults and anti-social behaviour reduced; people investing hours of time and resources to the wider community; thousands of people receiving help; perceived no-go areas becoming safer for everyone...

But we recognise there is so much more that is done and can be done. Inspired by the brilliant Townstock conference we have launched NightStock - an A-Z of brilliant ideas. Join the conversation - share ideas and resources - pinch the others mentioned and try them in your town!

Read more: http://www.sa-cni.org.uk/nightstock.html

“Many inspiring people here who are doing the do for their communities. It’s good to see what others are achieving”Ossett Observer @ossettobserver

“At Eight Sixteen Coffee we feed kids from each coffee we sell.

Business can achieve so much when it’s ‘more than itself’”

Pete Green, 816, Caterers for Townstock

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Big business and our town centres

From the Townstock audience

‘There is anger and frustration at what big businesses are doing to our town centres. Councils need to listen and channel that anger into something positive.’

‘Inspirational talk from Andy Godfrey of Alliance Boots - can’t wait to approach Boots now to see if we can work together in our community. I think I’ve put approaching big businesses at the bottom of my list – until now! I just assumed it would be fruitless. Lesson learned - never assume!’

‘How many schools, colleges, councils and universities support local business? They are some of the biggest employers in towns and cities. Need to consider these business opportunities.’“Morrisons please go

one step further: celebrate local distinctiveness and really promote local produce, character and tastes #townstock”Walk & Ride Festival @WalkandRideFest

“Can supermarkets like Morrison’s share retail science, knowledge with small independent stores?”Dan Thompson @artistsmakers

“Need to see car parks as a way of attracting people to town centre not just way of

managing traffic - Andy Godfrey Alliance Boots

#townstock”@TimSwift

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“Really like shift in society from ‘they don’t do…’ to a culture of ‘we’re going to…’ - shown over and over at #townstock”Dan Thompson @artistsmakers

Ideas from the Townstock audienceFlock to Ossett and 1000 Snowflakes

The Ossett Observer is a collective of residents, artists, mums, dads, thinkers and doers. We decided to use the title Ossett Observer because it’s a name that means something, it used to be our local newspaper.

We’ve hosted a Tweet Up, a Creative Swap Shop, started a Ukulele Club, hosted theatre music and spoken word events and participatory arts resulting in the tremendous ‘Flock To Ossett’ festival. Our next project is 1000 Snowflakes, from yarnstorm to snowstorm...

@ossettobserver

Read more: http://jacquiwicks.com/ossettobserver/blog/

See giant sheep and ukeles at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfKpK2GP5sE

“Totally Locally volunteer from Leek gives 12-15 hours a week to their town #townstock”Ossett Observer @ossettobserver

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Incredible Edible transforms their town

Cormac Lawler

One of the most inspiring talks was from Pam Warhurst of Incredible Edible Todmorden- a fantastic example of how communities can learn and build enterprise together. It's an initiative taken by the community to transform their town, Todmorden, into an 'edible landscape'; taking over any and all available spaces and planting vegetables, fruit and herbs that are available for anyone to pick, for free. Incredible Edible Todmorden (IET) has subsequently grown to involve a market garden training centre, a whole series of local producers' and traders' businesses, and a growing international network of similar 'incredible edible' initiatives.

But possibly the most innovative and fundamental thing that IET has done is to take an issue that concerns us all - i.e. food, and the need to eat - and use it as a way of engaging people in a conversation, changing perceptions and behaviours, and building community spirit and resilience.

Read more: http://www.manchestercommunitycentral.org/thoughts-townstock

Inspired by Pam from @incredibledible.

Why can’t everywhere be like

Todmorden and why isn’t Pam Prime

Minister?!”Nick Jones @Waterloosunrise

“How fabulously inspiring! I love the idea of getting the

‘soil’ or ‘agar’ right so that things just grow

organically.”From the Townstock audience

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Some advice for your townFrom the Townstock audience

‘Engage with all of a town’s community- old and new. Celebrate history, diversity and heritage. Be inclusive – it brings economic and social capital.’

‘Appreciate the role of arts organisations in supporting and celebrating smaller towns and communities. P.S. for me getting everybody singing is often a good place to start…’

‘Go where people are, talk, listen and reflect via public statement, images, action and shared ownership. Towns are diverse and successful towns value that.’

“Future High Streets report for Business in the Community, worth a read; BITC Connectors worth tracking down.”Dan Thompson @artistsmakers

“Some super ideas for towns to replicate via AMT

award winners in these short films: http://bit.ly/

QgKez7 #townstock #highstreets”

Jamie at AMT @TownsAlive

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What the people at Townstock are going to do now...‘Open a pop up shop in my town to with fellow crafters.’

‘Visit some great sites – Spots of Time - source of bite sized volunteer opportunities. Spacehive – “the world’s first funding platform for public space projects”.’

‘Inspired to do great things without big bucks – but also by the sense that the time has come for local finance’

‘Took a pile of Totally Locally flyers and intend to put them out with ‘coming soon to Eccleshall’ on the back.’

‘Go and speak other retailers and spread the word!’

“If yesterday was full of just do it, don’t get permission anarchic intervention, today at #townstock is much more about strategy, structure”Dan Thompson @artistsmakers

“amazing story of revamp of Dean Clough mill as ‘place and space people and businesses want to be’.”Chris Wade, AMT @man_about_towns

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“Back in Wales with glass of wine processing ideas

after an interesting, informative & inspiring

day… now to apply ideas to NP8. #townstock”

Emma @Bookishcrick

“I’m working on reviving small towns in Eastern Europe. I came to Townstock looking for ideas and for locations for a UK study visit. Expect to hear excited Russian and Moldovan voices in Calderdale before long!” Phil Wood @philwood11

What the people who made Townstock are going to do now...We’ve made a company, Redlab, to make Townstock 2013 and more events like it.

You can hear about them by joining our mailing list at http://eepurl.com/rWBWj or catch up with what we’re doing at www.redlab.co.uk or @RedlabHX

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People you should get to knowto make your town better

Totally Locally - award-winning shop local movement totally-locally.co.uk

Empty Shops Network - reducing empty shops with popups and other projects emptyshops.wordpress.com

#WeWillGather - volunteering, fundraising and community projects in the UK wewillgather.co.uk

Street Angels - transforming towns’ nighttime economies with volunteers streetangels.org.uk

Incredible Edible - community engagement through local growing incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk

CLES - leading charitable research organisation, with a focus on local economies cles.org.uk

Urban Pollinators - thinking, research and analysis for better towns and cities urbanpollinators.co.uk

Action for Market Towns - providing small towns with information and advice towns.org.uk

vInspired - connecting young people with volunteering opportunities vinspired.com/

ResPublica - independent, non-partisan UK think tank respublica.org.uk

New Start Magazine - the magazine for making better places cles.org.uk

BIRA - ‘the voice of independent retailers’ www.bira.co.uk

The Community Development Foundation - national organisation in community development and engagement cdf.org.uk

Locality - network for community-led organisations locality.org.uk

With thanks toEveryone who made Townstock possible, especially those who gave their time to speak or to help the programme.

Big thank you to our venue, Dean Clough Mill in Halifax www.deanclough.com

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Townstock will be held again in Halifax, West Yorkshire in September 2013

Visit www.redlab.co.uk for more information