2014 report for JRF by Steve Cinderby, Gary Haq, Howard Cambridge and Kate Lock 

This study looks at lessons from a scheme that helped residents of a York neighbourhood to make their community more environmentally sustainable and adaptable to change. The Good Life Initiative in New Earswick tried different ways of engaging residents and this research considers which were the most effective.

• Tapping into the existing interests of community groups and making use of their social networks was one of the most valuable ways to engage and reach out to people.
• The greatest successes involved linking to people’s interests in nature and the local natural environment and working with the local school. By engaging pupils messages could reach the wider community.
• It was vital to build trust among residents so that outside help could be reduced and responsibilities could become embedded in the community.
• The initiative helped people to forge new social links as well as reinforcing existing connections, which made the community stronger and better placed to affect change and become more resilient.