On Friday 6th March, we held our final community assembly as part of our Save Our Shores (SOS) Project. The aim of this and previous assemblies is to bring residents together to discuss common issues – particularly those related to the sea – and propose common solutions.

Unlike the other community assemblies we held, the most recent assembly focussed on synthesising the information we had collected in previous assemblies and brainstorming demands we will include in a petition to policymakers. Citizens proposed various demands relating to public access and public spaces, pollution issues, and public wellbeing versus private interests. Going around in stations to discuss their preferred topics, citizens wrote down their ideas before coming back together to discuss and rank their favourite, and most impactful, petition demands. The ideas we collected during this assembly will ultimately inform the writing of the final petition demands.

This process – from the previous community assemblies to the creation of petition demands – was intended to be citizen-led from beginning to end so that residents can feel empowered to come together and be active citizens in their communities. In doing so, it also highlighted the many shared issues and potential for collaboration among different residents. By coming together, positive change is easier to achieve than when working in isolation – and these assemblies provided a platform and model of how to do exactly that.
Do make sure to keep an eye out for the final petition!

The SOS Project is supported by the Minor Foundation for Major Challenges.