What is a ... community development officer?

Who do you work for?
I'm in a new job. It's a pioneering role created to help the community of a new development – Treloar near Alton in Hampshire – settle in and build good relationships. As far as I'm aware, this is the first such role set up to help a new community get comfortable.

I'm on a three-year contract, funded by Drum and Winchester housing associations, the Housing Corporation, East Hampshire District Council and the developers – Westbury, Gleeson and Wimpey Homes.

I have done similar work on housing estates in Hampshire and South Wales – but this is the first time I have arrived on site before the residents.

The idea is simple: you adopt a proactive approach to community relations by being there to help build them at the outset.

That means I help tenants in social and private housing to feel at home in their surroundings. I will hopefully be a focal point around which community relationships can be built.

Can you really create a community?
It takes time to evolve, of course, and usually there is little control exercised over the process. How residents communicate with each other and the council, whether children feel included and catered for, the existence of social and help groups – all these have historically been left to chance. My role is to help the community build constructive relationships and encourage people to work together for everyone's benefit.

Very laudable, but how is it done?
I've prepared introduction packs with information on everything from recycling to local events, and handed them out to all households.

In response to day-to-day enquiries, I'm building a database of contacts so I can point people in the right direction when they need help or advice. For some of the mums with young children, I am identifying childcare opportunities.

Already, people see me as a point of contact and as a sounding board for ideas and concerns, which is very encouraging.

You must be out meeting people a lot
I have an office at Drum Housing Association in Petersfield. But yes, quite a large part of my day is spent on site, meeting local people and generating support for initiatives that are being put into place.

A residents group has been formed and a youth group will take shape in the next few months.

I've already held a social event where residents met me and their new neighbours and we've had an Easter egg hunt; next up will be a summer fete. It's all in the newsletter that I put out.

Sounds like fun
I have a hands-on role at the heart of the community and I love being able to encourage a positive and constructive community spirit.