Transformation in Lower Falinge

When the mainstream media dubbed Lower Falinge the 'sicknote capital of England' they managed, at a stroke, to bring national notoriety to an area already struggling against serious social and economic difficulties. But they couldn't prevent its residents from dreaming of a better future. Now, thanks to an award-winning community engagement process involving hundreds of local people and service providers, that dream is leading to radical transformation in Lower Falinge.

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Latest Features

NWTWC - showcasing our work

As communities across the north west and beyond struggle to cope with the effects of recession, the lessons from the NWTWC projects featured in this film are perhaps more relevant than ever. more >
Unleashing the potential of front line staff

In October 2010 over fifty front line workers were brought together in Lancaster by NWTWC to begin a 'whole of system' conversation about how Appreciative Inquiry could benefit their work. more >
Impressions of conference

NWTWC's 2010 conference was a timely reminder of how turning Big Society rhetoric into reality needs exactly the kinds of approaches NWTWC supporters championed across the north west. more >
Civic mediation

Civic mediation workshops - supported by NWTWC - showed communities how to tackle old problems in new ways, by building capacity for people to do the work for themselves. more >
Transformation in Lower Falinge

Condemned by the media, yet local people created a positive future for Lower Falinge, as hundreds of local residents and service providers used Appreciative Inquiry to transform their area. more >
Young people finding a voice

When young people in Bolton wanted to campaign for a multi-wheel park they used innovative ways to present their case
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What makes a true community anchor?

In 2009 NWTWC commissioned the Centre for Local Economic Strategies to produce a report that looks at what works with community anchors and what doesn’t. More >
Community Empowerment Awards

Sometimes implementing an empowerment project is the easy part – it’s then measuring how effective it’s been that’s the difficult bit. That’s why in 2010 NWTWC launched its Community Empowerment and Social Cohesion awards. More >
Neighbourhoods in Agreement

The determination of a Community Participation officer, combined with hard work and commitment from a group of local residents, created a set of agreements tackling everything from antisocial behaviour to local expectations of the area’s own elected members. More >