We aim to capture, categorise, assess and prioritise community ideas about how to make Bognor better by creating an Ideas Bank
Background
Bognor is blessed with many creative characters, with a gift for creating imaginative ideas to make the town shine.
Over the years many great ideas have emerged and been expressed in a variety of ways.
Some have progressed as initiatives or projects and been implemented.
Community art such as ChloeBowie, The Mad Hatter and The Esplanade Community Mural are good examples.
So too are many of our community events, including Birdman, Rox, the Carnival, Bognorphenia, the Kite Festival, the Illuminations Gala, Southdowns Folk Festival, Proms in the Park, Blakefest, A Drive Through Time and Funshine Days to name but a few.
Sadly though many good ideas have not gained traction and have fallen by the wayside.
At the Bognor Regis Arts Information Network (BRAIN) we wondered why it can be such a challenge to turn great ideas into reality.
So we began to make a list of ideas (some old, some new) that could make Bognor a brighter place and to assess the critical factors in determining why few seem to succeed and so many don't.
The critical factors seem to be:
Community entrepreneurs with the inspiration, energy and acumen to make it happen
Sufficient community support to generate a business case and an implementation plan
Sufficient integrity to generate formal support and sponsorship
So what could happen if we were able to share the experiences and expertise of those who've made a real and successful difference with those who generate the ideas?
This is one of the aims of the HubBuB; to build an effective and integrated community network to promote the free exchange of ideas and expertise.
We are beginning to build just such a network by developing a community inspired plan and a number of programmes designed to capture good ideas and provide pathways to developing them into initiatives and projects to help them succeed.
Our community engagement and communications programme will be developing more information as soon as possible.
In the meantime take a look at some of the ideas we've discovered so far...