Hinxton Community Engagement
MAKING A LITTLE DIFFERENCE
On a sunny Wednesday, October 16th, the Hinxton Community Engagement Day brought together a passionate team from Urban&Civic, Whiting Landscape and ECL to make a difference in the local area.
With temperatures reaching a lovely 21 degrees, spirits were high as everyone gathered for a day filled with purpose and camaraderie.
Led by Tracey Penwright, the Community Engagement Officer at ECL, along with Vuile Major, Project Manager at Hinxton, and several dedicated team members, the day kicked off with a motivating briefing from Urban&Civic before the team set out to make a little difference to the local Hinxton community.
A further three from ECL rolled up their sleeves, transforming an overgrown play area by hand, removing years of built-up mud, algae, and thick moss. But the real challenge lay ahead: the play area’s rubberised flooring was looking worse for wear, and whilst everyone was scratching their heads, brainstorming ways to restore it, Mark, our trusty sweeper driver, swooped in to save the day! Armed with the industrial road sweeper’s powerful pressure washer, he negotiated around the play area, tackling years of dirt and grime to reveal the bright surface beneath.
The team didn’t stop there, making every minute count in the day. With a shared sense of purpose, they helped in the communal garden, pruning hedges and tidying the greenery surrounding the church and graveyard.
Hugh Taylor, the Churchwarden, expressed his gratitude, saying, “What a wonderful day yesterday and the day before. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate the help that you and your colleagues gave us; we really do. It really has given the village a boost, thank you.”
Tracey Penwright, Community Engagement Officer, added, “We’d like to extend our huge thanks to the wonderful parishioners who kept everyone fueled with coffee, tea, scrumptious scones, cakes, and biscuits throughout the day! Your generosity and support made a significant difference.
Special thanks to Hugh Taylor, the churchwarden, and his wife Angela, whose unwavering support and regular check-ins ensured that all the projects ran smoothly.”
Caroline Foster, Development Director at Urban&Civic, commented, “I’d like to add my thanks to all for volunteering. We passionately believe in the importance of meaningful engagement with our local communities, and this was a perfect example of how we can ensure our local residents feel the benefits of the development from the very beginning.
Thank you all so much for your time.”
This event was a beautiful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together as a community. Here’s to more days like this, where we roll up our sleeves, connect, and make a lasting impact.
