Following a few weeks hanging out in various haunts across Stanley and Consett, meeting some fantastic people and witnessing many examples of amazing community spirit, we finally had an eclectic and passionate group of Community Commissioners keen to come together to be part of PTC 2.
Our first meeting was held on Wednesday 17th September. After viewing several venues, we opted to hold it at Craghead Village Hall with the chilled-out Mark at the helm. Cathryn was busy on the morning of the 17th, so I turned up early on my own to be shown around by Mark and receive instructions on where to find cups, kettles and all the other essentials to make our new Commissioners feel welcome. The room was much bigger than our PTC 1 communal lounge, and in my usual mindset (my partner will tell you if I see a space I need to fill it!), I laid out the chairs in a big circle in the middle and set out tables around the outside for food and activities. Not entirely confident this was the right approach, but unsure of an alternative, I decided to await the verdict from Cathryn and the Commissioners.
In the days running up to the meeting, I hadn’t felt particularly nervous. I had session plans from PTC 1 to follow, and the experience of knowing what had and hadn’t worked the first time round. However, as 12 o’clock drew close, I felt the butterflies begin to flutter, and I was very relieved to see Cathryn’s cheery face as she arrived just before the Commissioners
Bang on time, the Commissioners came through the door. We have a great mix of people, including volunteers and service users from food banks and local community centres, an asylum seeker, parents with school age children, working people, people with neurodiversity and/or mental/physical health issues. The youngest Commissioner is 19 years old and the eldest is mid-60s.
Stanley is a close community; therefore, a few of our Commissioners already knew each other. However, we also had commissioners coming from Consett, which I was slightly concerned about. Being a Consett girl myself, I know only too well the historical tension between the two towns! However, my anxieties were unfounded as everyone began to tentatively introduce themselves, and there was definitely no sign of any division.
After an enjoyable buffet from Pact House and cups freshly filled, meeting 1 began.
The Commissioners were introduced to the PTC format of sitting in a circle, answering a check-in question and listening in turn to each other. Unfortunately, the interpreter for our Dari-speaking Commissioner from Afghanistan was unable to make the beginning part of the session. Between us all, we managed to communicate using Google Translate, and everybody was very patient and understanding. Once the interpreter arrived, it became a little easier; however, it is a work in progress, as it is the first time both Cathryn and I have facilitated a group using an interpreter. We will be looking at inventive ways to manage this to ensure inclusivity and flow. A couple of Commissioners even expressed an interest in learning Dari!
As we split into pairs to find out more about each other, it was interesting to observe the more buoyant and confident members of the group encouraging the quiet and more anxious to slowly let their guard down and begin to find their voice.
Feedback after the session was interesting with several saying, ‘I really didn’t want to come, but it’s not been as bad as I thought’ ‘, So and so dragged me here, I don’t usually like people but I’ve actually enjoyed it.’ Oh, and as I anticipated, my room layout didn’t get the best feedback. I need to fight back my natural instinct and not feel the need to fill the whole space!
It was a tentative start but we know from PTC 1 that with time and patience, a solid, caring and supportive group can grow.
PS, I didn’t cry this time!
We held our second meeting on 1 October. It was comforting to see familiar faces returning, along with a couple of new ones. This time, Cathryn took charge of the room layout, only using half of the space, which was definitely more cosy. However, we did all sit in the circle to eat our lunch, which felt a little uncomfortable, and we decided between us that next time we’ll play some music and take it in turns to be the DJ – going by the age range in the room, this could be an interesting experience! I know Cathryn listens to bands I’ve never even heard of, so I am preparing to be educated.
When our asylum seeker arrived, it was lovely to hear one of the other Commissioners attempt to say ‘Hello, how are you?’ in Dari. Judging by the blank expression, I’m not entirely sure he pronounced it correctly, but hats off to him for trying!
Another round of introductions was made, and we played the name game to test people’s memories. I was very impressed that everyone has pretty much mastered each other’s names already.
We did some activities about reasons for joining the PTC and what people hope to achieve. We asked the group to write their thoughts on post-it notes, which worked well for our Dari speaker, who could join in and have his comments interpreted. We had some great ideas from people including, ‘To be a voice for those who don’t feel they have one’ ‘To find out the real truth of poverty’ ‘The ‘nobodies’ to be seen and heard’ ‘Better support for those with mental health issues and homelessness’ ‘Better public transport’ ‘Policy makers to understand the impact of their decisions.’ Already, issues are being identified, and we’ll explore these further as the group develops.
Later, we played a video from the Poverty Truth Network. We’d prepared in advance and had been able to add Persian subtitles which our asylum seeker could understand. This was a big win, and several of the Commissioners thanked Cathryn and me for our inclusivity, which was unexpected but greatly appreciated. The video sparked lots of questions about the launch event, and people are already coming up with some fantastic ideas as to how to share their stories.
Our coffee break following the video felt really warm and friendly, with people chatting amongst themselves and some already beginning to share little snippets of their stories.
The Commissioners reviewed the document, which PTC 1 came up with, explaining the role of the Community Commissioner and have come up with some ideas to adapt it for their group. They also came up with some fantastic ideas on ending the sessions positively, using red and green cards, should conversations get too difficult, and our tech whizz has found a translation app which could come in very useful!
Overall, meeting two felt very positive. Watching group dynamics and relationships being formed never fails to astound and fascinate me.
My big win so far……at the first meeting, one of our younger members said very little and gave me no eye contact. This week, we had a conversation, and he looked at me the whole time. It’s the little steps that make the difference.
