Active Community

Active Communities

This section tells you all the ways you can be involved on your doorstep to improve the area that you live in.

Local Residents Groups
Residents Groups are informal groups of residents who live in the same neighbourhood who meet together regularly with Westcountry staff.
Forming a Residents Group provides you with an opportunity to meet with other residents from your street or area to share your wishes and views about where you live. It enables you to act together to effect change and shape the service that Westcountry provides to your street.
Your opinions are always welcomed and your group could even bid for funding for local projects and events.
More information on residents Groups can be seen by clicking here or on the link on the left hand menu.


Pottery Quay
Pottery Quay lies to the extreme North West of the Devonport Regeneration area on the banks of the river Tamar with views towards Cornwall.
Since 2003 Westcountry Housing and Guinness Hermitage have worked in partnership with existing residents to replace the ageing council flats. Significant construction works got underway in May 2006 and are due to be completed by January 2009.
The final scheme will comprise 24 homes for shared-ownership and 75 for rent, with landscaped open spaces and parking space.
Many of the existing residents at Pottery Quay have lived there for most of their lives and there are strong family connections between them. The history of the site and current priorities for the area made it essential that residents were offered a real opportunity for community involvement in the design and management of their new housing.
An Innovation and Good Practice Grant was awarded from October 2004 to enable a thorough involvement and consultation project and to support them through the changes and to conserve their memories in a local history project and to encounter new experiences, training and skills development.
The first lettings were made in July 2006, and events have been held to bring the old and new community together including a celebration party and several trips out. Residents and staff are now setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme and a young people’s activity group.
A community centre will be completed in January 2009 providing opportunities for events and learning for both residents and the wider population.
The progress of the project has been documented through the Pottery Quay Newsletter. Choose which Pottery Quay Newsletter to view from the below:

PQ Newsletter Jun 2007

PQ Newsletter Sep 2006

PQ Newsletter Aug 2006

PQ Newsletter Jan 2006

Onward House
Onward House is a community based project in Plymouth. At present it is a Big Lottery funded project run by local volunteers for the use of people on Greenbank estate and wider area, however, in October 2008 Westcountry Housing will be employing the project worker on a permanent basis.
The centre is run by Terry Leech who is the Project Co-ordinator and arranges activities for residents in the area. There are a number of activities and classes that run on a weekly basis. These include:

  • Art/Craft classes – 3 during the daytime for adults, 1 at teatime for children
  • English as a second language classes, for women who speak little or no English
  • 2 Mental Health groups – one with music and one social group
  • Youth Groups
  • Social group for elderly residents
  • Yoga, tai chi and meditation classes
  • Councillor surgeries
  • Coffee mornings.

Onward House also holds the following groups and activities:

  • Neighbourhood Watch
  • Credit Union Point
  • Various Committee meetings
  • Football in the park for local youngsters in the summer
  • Coach Trips
  • We support other groups in the area by giving the use of the centre for a nominal fee.
  • Westcountry hold a Housing Officer surgery
  • Seasonal activities i.e. Christmas Fayre, Summer Fun Day, Easter Egg hunt, Halloween Parties, Valentine disco etc
  • Supporters and organisers of local festivals.

We have helped to set up a Greenbank Forum for all interested i.e. local, businesses/concerned people. This is now includes the University of Plymouth, Police, Fire Brigade, Language schools, and charities who hold meetings at Onward House to discuss issues relevant to the area.