Engaging Wester Hailes - Findings from the Valuing Different Perspectives Community Evaluation

Abstract

First paragraph: The 2014 Valuing Different Perspectives community evaluation explored the legacy of digital engagement activities in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. It was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Connected Communities programme and led by three local community organisations (WHALE Arts, Prospect Community Housing Association and Wester Hailes Health Agency) that had collaborated since 2011 with one another and with academics on projects collectively called Our Place in Time (OPiT). These were partially supported through two AHRC grants. The outputs of these projects included: a digital totem pole; a community news site (the Digital Sentinel); a social history/health walks codebook accompanied by plans for wall plaques; and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) support, training and equipment. A social history blog and Facebook page From There to Here did not receive AHRC support but is considered a key component of OPiT. Anticipated outcomes of the projects included improved health and wellbeing; digital inclusion; increased community voice and social capital, and improved place attachment and place identity for residents.