Owning The Future - Hartlepool

How can we collectively support more community ownership in Hartlepool? Hartlepool has a rich history and is home to people and organisations doing vital work for our communities. But too often, we work alongside each other without having the time or space to connect, share what we know or build something together. Resources and ideas can come into the town, fund short-term projects, and then leave again. At the same time, local organisations can find themselves competing for the same funding and working towards similar goals without the opportunity to collaborate. Owning the Future is an invitation to explore what could be different. If Hartlepool is to have a greater say in its future, we need to build the relationships, skills, shared knowledge and governance that allow communities to have more influence over the resources and assets around them. Together, we will explore the potential of community ownership to strengthen Hartlepool's economy and communities. This includes: • making better use of public buildings and spaces • creating more opportunities for community ownership of land and assets • connecting organisations to share skills, knowledge and resources • bringing greater vibrancy to our high streets and town centre • supporting community-led climate action and local food systems • exploring how investment such as Pride in Place could create lasting local ownership and benefit. The day is for anyone looking for space or land for their community or organisation; people who manage public assets and want to make better use of them; those exploring community land trusts, common ownership or other community ownership models; and anyone curious about what this could mean for Hartlepool. We will also share new insight from Hartlepool Borough Council's mapping of publicly owned land and spaces. The day is being delivered in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Threads in the Ground, The Amateur Ancestor Project and Hartlepool Borough Council. Adam Cooper and Justine Boussard will help us draw on Hartlepool's history, heritage and existing assets to think differently about what could be possible. Most importantly, this is a chance to meet people you may not normally meet, share what you know, find connections and begin to build something together. Owning the Future starts with asking what we already have, what we could share, and what we could own together.