Building community resilience in Eastchurch

Engaging communities in co-producing understandings of coastal resilience

We are holding discussions and creative exercises led by local knowledge and agency on the topic of coastal community resilience in Eastchurch.

All (18+) residents are welcome, with a light lunch and refreshments provided.

This event forms part of a research study led by academics at the University of East Anglia in partnership with Estuary Festival, led by Thea Behrman, and local artists, including David Blandy.

We're using a style of workshop called a 'World Cafe', and the idea is to create an informal, comfortable space for folk to meet, have a chat or a doodle, and enjoy some (locally catered) food and drinks - all free of course. What that will look like in practice is several tables, in an accessible space, all having conversations that are informed by common prompts, but where the people at the table have complete freedom to take the conversation wherever they like. Everyone will have a chance to have their views heard and recorded directly or creatively (anonymously, unless they prefer to be named).

Join us to help creatively map out what living in Eastchurch means to you, what strengthens the community, and how we can tackle environmental and social problems. You'll be able to join in with creative and discussion-based exercises in a friendly, informal, and respectful atmosphere.

Participation is always voluntary, and is open to adults (18+) who live in Eastchurch.

View the full details for the event here.

We encourage you to secure a place through this booking page. However, some spaces will be available on the day.

What participation involves

We will use a “World Café” to create spaces of meaningful, inclusive, and action-oriented discussions, led by the diverse knowledges in the room. We are likely to focus on environmental and social issues, and how they overlap, which might include flooding, erosion, inequality, housing, isolation, and so on. In a World Café, community participants engage in small, informal discussions with each other within a casual ambience to enable understanding and change. There is also the option to take part in interviews before and after the event to help us determine whether and how the event has helped increase understanding and action. 

The discussion will be shaped by participants, but we will explore things like:

• what people value about the area,
• local knowledge and experience,
• community networks and support,
• shared needs and opportunities.

Please view the full Participant Information Sheet. We will ask for your consent based on this when you book your place.

About this research

This research is led by a team of researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA). The aim of our project is to better understand, advance, and mobilise knowledge about coastal community resilience. We are part of the broader ARISE Project. As part of ARISE, we hope to learn about the lived experience of coastal residents and do so in a way that centres local knowledge and provides meaningful engagement. We plan to publish and freely share the information produced from this project to help encourage action in this and other communities. This leaflet provides you with information about the research and your rights as a participant.

This research project has approval from the UEA UREC under application ID ETH-2526-1487. It also has approval from the University of Essex, whose principle investigator, Prof. Gina Reinhardt can be contacted at gina.reinhardt [@] essex.ac.uk.

The UEA research team are:

Prof. Irene Lorenzoni | Prof. Johanna Forster | Dr Scott Leatham. They are best contacted through Scott: s.leatham [@] uea.ac.uk

About the ARISE Project

ARISE (Advancing Resilience and Innovation for a Sustainable Environment) is comprised of several research teams led by the University of Essex and focusing on community resilience in coastal areas. The aim of ARISE is to create conceptual and methodological tools and recommendations to build sustainable resilience policy in UK coastal communities. 

Frequently asked questions

I like visiting Eastchurch as a tourist, may I join?

• We are interested in engaging with residents of Eastchurch, and those with a substantial, regular connection with the community and area. For this work, we are not inviting tourists.

I have children, are they welcome?

• Absolutely! In this work, we are not working with children as participants (other teams are doing this), but you are welcome to bring your children - though we are not able to supervise them.

Are participants paid?

• Unfortunately we are not able to pay participants for their time. We may be able to assist with travel or care costs to enable participation, however - please contact Scott Leatham (s.leatham [@] uea.ac.uk) to discuss this.

Where can I find out more information?

• You can view the Participant Information Sheet here. You can also see a physical copy on the day. You are also welcome to email the event organiser and one of the researchers, Dr Scott Leatham, at any point: s.leatham [@] uea.ac.uk. We are also in the area from the 14th to the 18th of April to answer any questions you might have - feel free to join us for a coffee! There will be posters up locally, or you can email us to find out where we'll be each day.