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Whatever Floats Your Boat

Cosmopolitan residents in Bootle took to the water in September for Liverpool's Urbanism 09 event, a colourful celebration of floating craft.

A procession of 16 boats, rafts and pedallos made the 3 mile journey along the newly reopened link from Liverpool's Pier Head to the Leeds Liverpool canal.

The canal parade was the grand finale for a summer of fun-filled action for young people from our properties in the area, inlcuding Carolina Street which overlooks the canal.

Many of them spent the summer holidays canoeing, raft making and zorbing; an extreme sport which involves rollind down a hill or over water in a giant inflatable globe.

Along with partners in regeneration body Evolve, we also joint funded Squash Nutrition which gave the young people a chance to grow, cook and eat their own fruit and vegetables.

The craft on display included an upside down taxi boat and a giant swan pedallo purchased from EuroDisney.

Diane Maddock, Cosmopolitan's Community Development Co-ordinator said: "Whether watching the parade from their canal-side homes or actually taking part, our residents thoroughly enjoyed this exotic and wonderful event. All credit to those behind it, including Liverpool Biennial, the Arts Council and New Heartlands for creating such a spectacular celebration of our waterway."

Evolve

Cosmopolitan HA is a member of Evolve, the partnerhsip of housing associations established to assist Sefton MBC in the delivery of its Housing Market Renewal Programme and other neighbourhood manangement initiatives in South Sefton. The Housing Market Renewal Programme is a 10-15 year Government initiative to restructure failing housing markets, tackiling the causes of low demand and abandonment. Other partners of Evolve are the Plus Dane Housing Group and Hornby Homes.

Evolve's geographical focus is on the neighbourhoods of Queen/Bedford and Worcester Road which are located in Bootle, near to Stanley Road and the Strand shopping centre.

Staff from Cosmopolitan work with an advisory panel made up of local residents to indentify neighbourhood priorities and provide long lasting solutions. Some examples of this are:

Provision of a dedicated Anit-Social Behaviour service to residents, promoting community safety
Working with young people providing diversionary activities and encouraging their involvement
Working with the Council's Leisure Services Department to make sure that parks in the area are attractive and safe and benefit the local community. In this respect Cosmopolitan HA as part of Evolve is a member of a Steering Group established to secure funding and deliver improvements to Derby Park which is located in the Worcester Road Neighbourhood. The Group, made up of residents, Leisure Service staff, Evolve, community groups and local councillors ensured over Ł750,000 has been spent on improvements such as a new play area, replacement of the central steps, a new Multi Use Games Area and improvements to the historical features of the Park such as the Poulson Memorial, the Fountain and Flagpole. A newly formed Community Development Group now meets to promote park activities.

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