Category: Black-led community self-build

Transcription

Living in a friend’s SPARE ROOM, this was my opportunity to create a home I never IMAGINED i could afford. It sounded a FANTASTIC idea:, how does an ORDINARY JOE like Me get to BUILD his own home? Grand Designs is for people with MONEY, and I needed NO MONEY or building experience. But I’m a give it a go person. I was really CURIOUS how normal people got to do something AMAZING, I GAVE MYSELF to the whole process.

I unexpectedly became a father and I was able to provide a GREAT HOME FOR MY SON ETHAN. I felt GOOD to provide a HOME for me and my FAMILY. The building work was demanding, every weekend as I had a full time physical job.

On my first day on site I was struck by how sunny it was and there were CHILDREN around. It created a GREAT ATMOSPHERE a real COMMUNITY. A group of people ALL working towards ONE GOAL. I still find it INSPIRING that we all cooked together. To ME it felt like FUN, serious task but enjoyable. The children brought a feeling of LIGHTNESS. The energy form the children drew forth a different energy from me. I felt like I was PART OF SOMETHING. When my family came along I was READY.

I’ve made lifelong friendships, and feel I belong. I created a home with good neighbors and I even have my own garden which I really value. I met such a range of people from Beverley who runs her own dance company, to Peter the graphic designer and Prince the drumming gardener. Real bonds with strangers in a city that was supposed to be unfriendly.

The time management was hard but we have created a supportive village. I had to learn how to get on with a range of people with different values. It SURPRISED me how I had to grow to get on with people. It was a sacrifice to work seven days a week for almost two years but it was so WORTH IT.

I learnt self- discipline. For me, my son was born in this house. I created a home for him, with the support of others. I will ALWAYS CHERISH THE TIMES we had together in a home I was empowered to build. No better LEGACY than that.

(T9)

If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk

Transcription

I was homeless, stuck on a 20th floor tower block and heard about a meeting on self-build. It was a short-life group facing the loss of their homes. We set a new co-op, Fusions Jameen, for Caribbean and African people. Chisel was allowed to access a grant to build permanent homes.

Now I have wonderful house and garden. I feel very FORTUNATE to HAVE BUILT the homes we live in. My daughter was born just before we moved in about 28 years ago and she now lives in the home that her mum built. CRAZY.

I had to go through the STEEPEST LEARNING CURVE. I was good at basic carpentry but I learnt all aspects including how to read technical drawings, interact with architects etc. the building process was simplified to maximise our participation e.g. the plumbing was push and fit with skilled welding kept to a minimum.

Also we were a co-op, I couldn’t just focus on getting timbers for my own home. We had to construct the frames together, work as a TEAM. We got lots of TRAINING. Once the structure was water tight we then focused on our individual homes. We had conflicts and if they got bad the management committee would have to step in.

We had a rota for meal preparation on the weekends. It created a genuine community. Different Ones and Ones coming together. Volunteers and friends turning up to push up our frames, EXPERIENCES LIKE THAT JUST DON’T GO AWAY. I’DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT.

It’s about creating a niche, a community I was motivated by Black people moving forward together. The Nubia Way scheme is mixed. I was SHOCKED given where we started and our original purpose. I am very proud of our achievements.

At the end of the day it’s about the LEGACY of creating a community. As you walk up you see these homes that look like PLACES FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY. With all the greenery you forget that they’re in South London.

My daughter lives in the house inherited from her self-build mother. My daughter and granddaughter can say grandad built the home we live in and that is true legacy. I say to the next generation’ Get your people together, form a group. At the start we didn’t know how but we met and built. I didn’t expect that another group would emerge from our efforts and build 13 new homes in Nubia Way.

It is up to you. You can sit back or you can do something for your family and your community. It’s amazing how what I learnt in those two to three years of building has lasted a lifetime. I had a dream, a VISION. To stick through to achieve that vision.

What remains is the creative force or energy you put into the scheme. The self-build has opened up a whole NEW WORLD for me. CHISEL seem like they’re just collecting rent, not investing in them. Whole veranda rotting away. They are a threat to our legacy.

(T8)

If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk