Tracey Carter’s blueprint for successful community outreach: "Start Small, Dream Big"

^{Souce: Diocese of Nottingham}

The dynamic strategist, responsible for leading a ground-breaking missionary project in Nottingham Diocese, has revealed her top tips for launching successful community outreach.

During a recent diocesan ‘Mission Lab’ session, hosted by the Diocese of Nottingham, Tracey Carter, Relationship Manager, for Project St Thomas, Spalding (PST) told participants to “start small; dream big.”

Project St Thomas which is run from Immaculate Conception and St Norbert’s parish in Spalding, was first launched thanks to the generosity of a late parishioner, who gifted the parish the Methodist chapel next door.

At first, PST focused on offering free Sunday lunches to those who need it, but following the recruitment of Tracey Carter, it is running many philanthropic projects.

“Start small; dream big” she said: “Begin with that one solid service; be it a coffee morning, be it a meal service. Diversify that funding from day one; be it grants, sponsors, activities, fundraising events.”

Tracey also emphasised the importance of meeting the practical needs of the community by researching what people’s needs are and not replicating work which has already been done.

She also said that people should learn how to approach local business properly.

“Create those win-win partnerships with business and organisations,” she said. “I see many people approaching businesses and organisations and saying, ‘hey! Let me tell you all about us; please give me some money.’  That’s not the way it’s going to work; you need to be telling them what’s in it for them and give them something in return.”

Tracey also shared that “good data collection” is paramount from day one when launching a project like PST. “Even if only 2 people turn up to your first coffee morning; track it. Track your volunteer hours which have been helping to deliver your goals. Track the people that attended and track the money that it made. It might only be £1.50! Doesn’t matter! Track it, because then you’re in the process of already doing it, and you’re getting used to it and you’re going to need all that evidence for funding applications.”

Due to the global pandemic in 2020, Tracey told participants that it was harder to recruit volunteers as the pandemic reminded many people about how much they loved their own time. She encouraged listeners to praise their volunteers and profusely thank them, to boost morale and mitigate burn out among volunteer groups.

Finally, Tracey urged participants to listen and to find out what people really need and want. “Listen to your community, “she urged, “rather than imposing solutions on them. Find out what they want. They will be far happier and more prepared to come in.”

New projects recently launched under the Project St Thomas umbrella are, 'Tom’s Baby Store' which is a second-hand store for baby and toddler clothes, which generates some income for PST, along with funds for families who need help with bills and groceries.

There is also now a PST ‘Money Advice Centre’ which gives advice on budgeting and benefits applications and a ‘Tools and Talk’ group which brings men together for social time, but also provides the opportunity for residents to bring in simple repair projects.

Project St Thomas is also establishing a ‘Reflections Café’ in partnership with the NHS, St Barnabas Hospice and the Pinchbeck Hub and Library to encourage conversations about death and dying.  Meanwhile, it has also launched Tom’s Kitchen, which will offer affordable meals- such as two courses for only £6,50, homemade, good quality food, for example, cottage pie with veg and homemade apple crumble with custard - to the local community.