Sick of negativity, here are the positive Northampton people creating a zine, podcast, monthly walking group and more from one of the country’s most deprived towns
This story is part of our Tales from a Slow Way series, funded by the Pilgrim Trust. Each Tales award includes a contribution to the organisation as well as a project fee to the creative. This project’s donation went to Happy You Project which is the constituted community group that produces The Happy `Hood.
I’m Laura Graham, a writer and community activist. I set up a community project six years ago which produces a quarterly good news community zine called The Happy `Hood. It’s positive Northampton news made by positive Northampton people.
The Happy `Hood celebrates good news in Northampton. It is created by an army of volunteer artists, writers and designers. It is a place where fantastic independent businesses, charities, community groups and individuals are celebrated for their contribution to our town. The Happy `Hood was originally designed to fight back against the negative narrative that dominated the story of Northampton. Since its launch, it has been the catalyst for a movement of positivity that has seen creative collaborations, events and general happy-making across the town.
Turning around negativity about Northampton
We are one of the largest towns in the UK and are an area of deprivation (our council went bankrupt a couple of years back so you can imagine the impact that’s had).
To give you some context, according to the Hidden Needs in Northamptonshire report:
- – The county has LSOAs (local census areas) in the top 1% most-deprived nationally for education and skills, income and employment, health, crime and housing
- – The number of adults hospitalised for self-harm related injuries was higher than the national average across most of the county
- – This deprivation results in chronic mental and physical ill-health and premature mortality
- – Adults in Northampton don’t have access to free creative activities which has a negative impact on wellbeing
But there are so many people doing so much great stuff
We took a diverse selection of the Northampton community on a Slow Way group walk from Northampton along the river Nene to Wollaston. The walk included people who never normally walk/wheel along with those who do have an interest.
On the journey we explored our surroundings along with the connection to the urban place we all inhabit. The walk and discussion inspired a ‘Slow Ways special’ in The Happy `Hood zine. The aim was to encourage people to get involved, especially those who are often excluded and marginalised when it comes to access to walking and green spaces.
Here is Issue 24 of The Happy ‘Hood, the Slow Ways special.
I’d also like to produce a podcast series that shares the discussions from the group walks. The groups I intend to include are far from the white, middle class, middle aged people who are most linked to rambling and walking. Here is the first of the Happy `Hood podcasts:
We walked some of the Northampton to Wollaston Slow Ways route which goes along the river Nene. This walk and recording inspired the Happy `Hood to start a monthly walking group – find out more via our Instagram or Facebook or Discord.
The donation for his project went to The Happy You Project which is the constituted community group that produces The Happy ‘Hood. This will help us to continue our community project beyond this project and help with financial costs associated like printing, postage, website, insurance, marketing etc.
Laura Graham and The Happy `Hood community
Laura has lived in Northampton on and off for 20 years. She keeps coming back because Northampton has something truly unique.
A freelance writer and community activist, Laura has fingers in lots of pies across the town and wouldn’t have it any other way. She knows that when people feel proud of where they live, they feel safer, happier and connected, which is why she is on a mission to show people how great their hometown really is.
Over 250+ generous souls have contributed their time and talents to The Happy `Hood project. It is illustrated front to back by amazing artists and written by people who care about showcasing the best that Northampton has to offer. The Happy `Hood gives local people a platform to be seen and heard.