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Where I live we had a problem. The housing estate was divided into home owners and tenants. The tenants were blamed for every criminal thing that could possibly happen, car thefts, antisocial behaviour and the usual. The homeowners were blamed for the less criminal but more annoying things, inconsiderate parking, failure to pick up dog waste and nonstop home improvements. It seemed as though this situation could never be resolved, even the police couldn?t find a common ground. It seemed to be two different classes of people sharing the one estate.
The Community
A remarkable woman made the difference. She was in her 60?s and had lived on our estate for 40 years. First as a tenant, then as a home owner, she had seen both sides of the arguments. She started the first joint community group, called it the Tenants and Residents Committee and within a year had turned our estate into one where everybody is seen as equal, and indeed treats everyone else as equal too. The old dispute of how people were treated, in accordance with their housing position, was finally put to rest as the first thing she did was to
Our Thank You displayed the similarities between the people. Homeowners broke laws just as tenants did, tenants parked inconsiderately just like homeowners; the difference in housing changed nothing. She united the Police, the Social Landlord and the local Council with regards to the problems concerning where we live. The first year was the hardest, only 4 people were interested. Two tenants, two homeowners. But it was a start and now 30 residents regularly meet, once a month. They make a difference. Amongst other things the kids have a brand new swing park and parking has finally been sorted in front of the shops. Positive things are happening all over the estate and we felt it was time to thank the community.
The group reviewed the many different ways of displaying their sentiments. Monuments, plaques all of the usual things were suggested, but even if we could decide on what to do, where were we to place it? Then one of our residents, after visiting The Royal Artillery Museum told us of a wonderful display he had seen. Engraved bricks. Thousands of names, ex-servicemen, visitors and sponsors, all engraved on matching red bricks. He showed us his photographs and the decision was made.
The Swing Park
Our park is used by everyone. The kids have the swings, climbing frames and all of the other stuff you would expect. The older people have the benches and the decorative duck pond. The rest use the field, some for football, others for dog walking. The one thing that everyone uses is the footpath. The committee decided that this is where the engraved bricks should go.
Surprising Fundraising
It was decided to have one for every current member of the committee, so 30 bricks were needed. ?Our museum visitor took it upon himself to contact the museum and ask them who supplied their own bricks; it took only one phone call. A local building firm offered to install the path for free, and two of the shops offered to pay for the materials. Now we knew where to buy them, all we needed was the initial funds. A summer fair raised this money in just one day, and six weeks later the diamond pattern, comprising our very own engraved bricks, displaying all of the committee member names was complete. The path looked amazing, and everyone involved had a real sense of achievement. The surprise came next. The effect of the bricks was so striking, that other groups wanted to create the same display. The Scouts, the football teams even the primary school all wanted to have their own bricks. The fundraising came naturally. The committee negotiated with the local Council and the result is now there for all to see. We charged anyone interested ?30 per brick, only after doing something positive on the estate, collected a list of names, and placed the order, now we have over a thousand engraved bricks, families, shops, social groups you name it, we have it. We?re almost half way around the duck pond, and we?ve managed to rise over ?5000, when we double this, we?re buying a minibus, to help with days out and shopping.
There are so many ways to raise funds. There are also so many ways to say thank you. To us, using the?engraved bricks?did both; we?re proud of where we live and now everyone can see.
Source: http://www.ourhometools.com/a-thank-you-carved-in-stone
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