The Coopers Edge Trust

Read the Coopers Edge Trust blog

About the approach

Coopers Edge Trust is situated on a new housing estate, they are employing a community organiser from outside the neighbourhood who will carry out engagement and develop volunteer recruitment. The group is keen to develop and strengthen its volunteer base and generate more ways for building participation.

The group will build a sense of community through offering fun community social events and recreational activities to appeal to as many people as possible within Coopers Edge, a new housing estate which has not yet developed any local community infrastructure. The new community building, a converted mobile unit, will act as a focus for activities.

Seed funding will be offered to good ideas put forward by residents and a Challenge Prize fund will be made available to the best local ideas.

The Trust recognises that in order to attract new volunteers, participation needs to be fun. Social and recreational activities are therefore central to the approach. The new community building will provide some much needed meeting space and, with input from the community organiser, will make a significant contribution to the early stages of establishing a community infrastructure within this new neighbourhood.

About the organisations

The Lead: The Coopers Edge Trust

The Coopers Edge Trust was formed in 2010 as a result of a successful proposal from the Coopers Edge Community Group and the Robinswood Trust to run the new primary school in Coopers Edge. The Trust is led by a small group of committed residents who are determined that Coopers Edge, a new housing development, will become 'a community and not just a housing estate'.

Although relatively new, the Trust has been working hard to build links between residents and service providers. They have also established a community newsletter, organised community events and the installation and maintenance of community notice boards.

About the neighbourhood

Coopers Edge is a brand new residential development in the heart of Gloucestershire. The community is equidistant from the city of Gloucester and the town of Cheltenham. When completed, the area will provide 1,900 houses, offering a mix of private and social housing. As a new community, which is growing in size week by week, Coopers Edge has the potential to build a strong and shared identity for its residents. At present there are no physical spaces for community members to come together.