Neighbourhood Project

Whaddon, Lynworth and Priors Neighbourhood Project

Whaddon, Lynworth and Priors Neighbourhood Project began life in 1997, when a small group met together to decide how to help the local community.  The result was the Neighbourhood Project, incorporated in November 1997 and receiving charitable status in 1999.  Services have evolved over the years in response to changing needs, but the main objective of the Project remains enabling local residents to help themselves and their community.  In January 2008, the Neighbourhood Project moved into Oakley Community Resource Centre in Clyde Crescent. 

The Project works in 5 key areas:-  

Education   
There is a strong commitment to lifelong learning.  Students of all ages attend a range of courses - literacy and numeracy, IT skills (through to advanced qualifications), ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), NVQ, Art/Crafts, healthy eating courses etc. (See 'Education Programme' for current courses available.)

WLPNP is grateful to The Learning Curve for Train To Gain funding for Teaching Assistant NVQ courses.  Details of their own excellent IT training and conference facilities in central Chippenham can be found on their website (see Links).

Advice   
The Project works in partnership with other organisations to deliver advice services to the community.

Health
Various therapeutic services are organised by the Project for the local community.  (See 'Health' Page for more information.)  For several years the Project has been campaigning for GP facilities to return to the centre of the community.  Many residents are currently having to catch two buses to reach the St Paul's Medical Centre.  This is a very unsatisfactory situation - especially for the elderly.   The campaigning of the Project and the local community has so far fallen on deaf ears.

Children and young people
During the school holidays the Project runs Playrangers in local parks (Clyde Crescent, Lynworth Green and Priors Park).  The sessions regularly attract many local children, with activities including sport, crafts, and walks.  The Project also supports the Summer Football Tournament run annually in Clyde Crescent.

Timebank 
Timebank is a system by which people volunteer to help others registered with Timebank and gain credits to 'buy' services.  Typical tasks include painting and decorating, gardening, work with computers, form-filling etc.  This fulfils the aim of the Project , enabling local residents to help themselves and the community at the same time.