Have your say in local community consultation being carried out by Pulteneytown People's Project
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The views of people living in Wick and the wider area are being sought in a community consultation currently being conducted by Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP).
PPP head of development Julie Cassidy said the initiative would give a chance for people to voice their opinion on local issues and say what activities and services they would like to help build a brighter future and improve the community for everyone.
She explained that they used to do a community consultation at least once a year just to try and get feedback on what the issues were locally.
"The way things are with Covid, we were not able to do that," said Mrs Cassidy. "It is quite a wide ranging consultation. We are trying to reach as large an audience as possible. We want to get the views of the widest section of the community."
Previously they used to invite everybody into the big hall at the Pulteney Centre in Huddart Street, Wick, but this year they have made an online questionnaire which the team at PPP is busy sharing with people.
Focussing on wellbeing, health, finance and the environment, the consultation will include questions on what made life more difficult over the last two to three years, if there was anything that made things easier and what improvements could be made.
"People are given the opportunity to let us know if there is any areas we have not mentioned," said Mrs Cassidy. "We have ideas of what we think the issues will be – we know that mental health is still an issue.
"Before we apply for funding we just want to make sure what we are thinking is along the same lines as what the community is thinking."
A leaflet drop has been done in the Pulteneytown area and the team are trying to incorporate a cross-section of people from all walks of life.
The online questionnaire is anonymous, however those taking part are given the option of entering a prize draw for a £50 Tesco voucher as a thank you.
The head of development feels that the social isolation experienced over the last couple of years will have an impact on the consultation as well as increased concerns over heating costs and worries about feeding families.
"It is going to be a tough year for a lot of people, just when we thought it could not be any worse than the last one," she said.
Feedback will be gathered over the next few weeks via the online questionnaires and conversation sessions at the centre's Telford Café this coming week – Monday (March 28) 2-4pm and Thursday (March 31) 10am to 12 noon.
PPP team members will also be at Tesco, Wick, on Saturday, April 2, between 10am and 4pm, to engage with the community there.
The questionnaire can be found by visiting this link: https://form.jotform.com/pppwick/ppp-community-consultation
In addition, plans are in the pipeline to start a daytime community meal at the Pulteney Centre, this would be a free service, but donations will also be welcome.
