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Citizens UK Event
Southend City College Hosts Successful Citizen UK Event
Southend City College (part of South Essex College Group) hosted an inspirational event aimed at bringing communities together. Citizens Essex organised the event with the college who are the newest members of this alliance of organisations working together for the common good.
Entitled The Power of Conversation, the event celebrated the power of conversation and its ability to build bridges, create awareness, weave trust and grow power. The event facilitated an historic 1000 experiences of 1-2-1 conversations in only two hours.
A diverse crowd of 164 people joined together, including members of education, faith & charity organisations and college learners to learn what civil society can achieve when we weave trust and build intentional relationships in order work together for change.
Attendees spoke about their experiences of the transformative power of conversations to build relational power that changes things for the better. Speakers provided top tips for having intentional conversation that help us connect with others across diversity.
Rev Pam Davies, Southend City Baptist Church, commented: “I really valued seeing how many other people in Southend are looking to build relationships. For me I know people are looking for connection in churches, but there is something about seeing everybody in a room that really helps me appreciate the scale of the movement.”
Abida Raja, Southend Mosque added: ”I am sure we all agree it’s more important than ever in our multi-ethnic society that communication and conversation are clear and effective and must be carried forward with more and more care and understanding of each other. This event helped achieve this and anything else that can help to bring this about, is helpful.”
Southend City College principal, Nicki Kelly spoke of the college’s strategic aims to be the heart of community transformation. She said: “We have a strong tradition in delivering creative education, particularly at the City of Southend. Our strategic aims set out our ambition to be central to the transformation of our communities and being a member of Citizens Essex is the start of this journey as we want to work together to provide knowledge, education and the skills to develop.”
Nicki went on to explain that the college’s ambition is to build relationships with schools, employers, community & religious groups, local politicians and local authorities.
In the evaluation participants said the event made them feel connected, inspired, encouraged, energetic and engaged.
Local resident, Ershad H said that he noticed how people looked at each other before and after the conversations. Distrust turned to trust, disconnection changed to connection, alienation changed to familiarity and friendship
Darren Fearn, a volunteer with Southend mental health charity Trust Links said: “I shared some Inspiring conversations with young students and an Iman from a local Mosque. It was very thought provoking talking to these young people and I would like to carry on talking to these future adults and hopefully give them hope that there are a lot of good people in this world.”
Nicki Kelly summed up the success of the occasion by saying: “It was an inspiration and proud moment to host this event and become one of the newest members of Citizens Essex.
“We have made a big strategic decision to align with the college’s vision and therefore being a new member in Essex will help to strengthen the civic engagement and we wholeheartedly welcome more involvement.”
For more information on the project contact Juliet Kilpin, Senior Organiser, Citizens Essex
(Part-time. Usual working days Mon, Tues & Weds)
