Preparing for Hull’s Mid-Autumn Festival 2027

Building Stronger Connections Through Community Collaboration

The partnership between CROGGI CIC and the Hull Chinese Cultural Centre is continuing to grow, creating new opportunities to bring people, organisations and communities together through cultural activities, shared experiences and community-led projects.

This relationship has recently taken an important step forward, with CROGGI CIC founder Anthony Wan taking on the role of Executive Secretary to the Hull Chinese Cultural Centre committee. The appointment strengthens the connection between the two organisations and provides an opportunity to support the centre’s ongoing development, improve coordination and build relationships with a wider network of community partners.

Working closely with the centre’s executive committee, the focus is on turning ideas into practical opportunities that benefit both the Chinese community and the wider population of Hull.

Looking Ahead: Hull Mid-Autumn Festival 2027

One of the key initiatives now moving into the coordination and preparation stage is the proposed Hull Mid-Autumn Festival 2027.

The vision is to create a welcoming, community-centred celebration of Chinese culture and heritage, bringing together local residents, community organisations, cultural groups, businesses, artists, performers and educational institutions.

Potential activities could include traditional lion dancing, music and dance performances, calligraphy, painting, paper-cutting, lantern-making, cultural demonstrations, food stalls and opportunities for visitors to discover the traditions behind the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Beyond celebrating Chinese heritage, the event aims to encourage meaningful connections between different communities, creating opportunities for people to participate, share their skills and learn from one another.

The festival is still in development, and its eventual programme will depend on the interest, contributions and support of participating organisations and individuals.

Bringing Partners and Ideas Together

A major part of the work now underway is reaching out to potential collaborators, gathering expressions of interest and identifying what different groups could contribute.

This includes exploring opportunities with cultural organisations, universities, community groups, local businesses, artists, performers, volunteers and public-sector partners. Each may have different resources, skills, equipment, knowledge or networks that could help bring the festival to life.

Rather than developing the event in isolation, the aim is to build it collaboratively from the outset. By understanding what potential partners can offer and what support may be available, the organising team can develop a clearer picture of the resources required, the activities that are achievable and the opportunities for wider community participation.

Working closely with the executive committee of the Hull Chinese Cultural Centre, CROGGI CIC is helping to coordinate these conversations and develop the relationships needed to move the project forward.

Creating a Lasting Community Legacy

While the Mid-Autumn Festival provides an exciting focus for 2027, the longer-term ambition extends beyond a single event.

Strong partnerships can create lasting opportunities for cultural exchange, creative learning, volunteering, community participation and the development of future projects. By connecting organisations and individuals who might not otherwise work together, the festival could help establish relationships that continue well beyond the day itself.

This reflects CROGGI CIC’s wider approach to community development: facilitating connections, developing opportunities and empowering communities to work together.

The developing partnership with the Hull Chinese Cultural Centre is an important step towards that vision. By combining local knowledge, cultural experience, community relationships and practical coordination, the aim is to support the centre’s development while helping create more opportunities for people across Hull to connect, contribute and participate.

Moving Forward Together

Preparations for the proposed Hull Mid-Autumn Festival 2027 will continue as conversations develop, partners come forward and the practical requirements become clearer.

CROGGI CIC welcomes interest from organisations, businesses, performers, artists, community groups, volunteers and individuals who would like to contribute ideas, offer support, participate in activities or explore potential partnerships.

Together, we can help create a celebration that recognises Chinese cultural heritage, welcomes Hull’s diverse communities and lays the foundations for stronger community connections in the years ahead.

Interested in collaborating or getting involved?

Contact CROGGI CIC:

Email: croggicic@outlook.com

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/croggicic/home

Hull Chinese Cultural Centre: 7–9 Percy Street, Hull

We look forward to working with more partners to develop this initiative and explore what we can achieve together.

CROGGI CIC continues to develop new partnerships, activities and opportunities for people in our community.

Developing classes with Lady Wang

We are continuing to work closely with Lady Wang, supporting the development of her personal brand, website and community activities.

The next stage is to promote a programme of accessible classes at the Hull Chinese Community Centre, including life coaching and gentle exercise sessions.

These activities are intended to provide welcoming opportunities for people to learn, stay active, build confidence and connect with others in a friendly community environment.

We are now working towards promoting the sessions and establishing dates for the first classes.

Welcoming new members and skills

We are also pleased to welcome Liga Dimante, a new CROGGI member who works as an interpreter and brings valuable language and communication skills to our growing network.

We are supporting Liga with the development of her own professional brand and website, helping her present her services and experience more effectively.

This reflects an important part of CROGGI CIC's approach: helping people develop their own skills, ideas and projects while creating opportunities for collaboration.

Supporting people with disabilities

Our community work has also increasingly brought us into contact with people living with disabilities and significant mobility or sight difficulties.

Through providing practical voluntary support, we have seen first-hand some of the challenges people can face in managing everyday activities and maintaining independence.

This experience has encouraged us to look beyond simply providing short-term help. We are exploring more constructive, person-centred ways of supporting individuals, including identifying practical solutions, improving accessibility and helping people make better use of the support and resources available to them.

We recognise that no single organisation can provide all the answers. We are therefore looking to develop relationships with other community organisations, professionals, volunteers and potential funding partners who can bring additional knowledge and resources.

Our longer-term aim is to develop a meaningful community-based approach that can help improve people's independence, confidence and quality of life, while complementing — rather than replacing — existing professional and statutory support.

Building our capability

As our activities expand, we are also working to strengthen our practical capability and safeguarding arrangements.

We have recently gained First Aid at Work certification from The Hull Training Hub CIC and a DBS certificate from gov.uk, adding to our ability to organise and support community activities responsibly.

The next stage is to put this developing capability into practice by promoting and hosting some of our planned classes and activities.

Continuing our environmental partnership

Our close collaboration with Hull International Carnival is also continuing to grow.

We are looking at opportunities to recruit volunteers and develop practical community garden and environmental projects, creating opportunities for people to get involved, learn new skills and contribute to improving local outdoor spaces.

Our developing Stewardship Works CIC project is now well equipped with the basic tools and equipment needed for garden clearance, maintenance and related environmental work.

We are looking forward to getting the first projects underway and welcoming volunteers who want to get involved.

Moving from ideas into action

The past few months have been about building relationships, developing skills, putting the right foundations in place and responding to needs we have encountered through our community work.

We are now reaching an exciting stage where several of these ideas are beginning to move towards practical delivery — from community classes and individual member projects, to disability support, environmental volunteering and community garden work.

We look forward to developing these partnerships further and creating more opportunities for people to participate, learn, contribute, gain independence and connect.

Community • Creativity • Circular Innovation

Our recent partnership with Martin from Hull International Carnival has opened up a number of exciting new opportunities for CROGGI CIC and the communities we work with.

Through this developing partnership, CROGGI CIC has been supported with training to enhance our knowledge and capability in environmental conservation and community-based environmental projects. This has already led to new ideas, connections and opportunities to develop practical projects within local communities.

One particularly exciting development is our collaboration on the establishment of a separate initiative, Stewardship Works CIC, focusing on community-based outdoor projects such as garden clearance, maintenance, habitat improvement and the development of shared green spaces.

Martin's connections have also helped open discussions around the potential use of an outdoor community space where activities could potentially take place at no cost to the project. We hope this could provide a valuable base for volunteers to get involved, develop practical skills and share knowledge and experience in environmental stewardship.

As the project develops, we intend to create opportunities for volunteers to learn from one another, gain practical experience and work towards developing further skills and relevant qualifications. This represents an exciting addition to our growing network of partnerships and complements CROGGI CIC's wider commitment to community participation, learning and environmental awareness.

Developing Better Community Support

Alongside our environmental work, recent activities have also highlighted another important area of community need.

We have been supporting community members living with various disabilities and additional needs, including providing practical personal assistance and domestic support alongside existing council services.

Through this experience, we have identified that there can be considerable room for improvement in how individual support is coordinated around a person's actual day-to-day needs. Every person's circumstances are different, and a standard approach does not always provide the flexibility, continuity or practical help that an individual may require.

CROGGI CIC is therefore exploring the development of a pilot community support model designed around the individual rather than simply around a set of services. The aim is to develop a practical format or system that can work alongside existing statutory and professional support, while helping to identify gaps and provide appropriate community-based assistance.

We are currently exploring funding opportunities that could allow us to develop and test this approach properly, with the longer-term aim of creating a scalable programme that could potentially benefit more people and communities.

These developments reflect what CROGGI CIC is about: identifying real community needs, working with others, learning from practical experience and developing new approaches that can create meaningful opportunities and support.

Journal Update – Building Skills, Partnerships & New Opportunities

The past few weeks have brought another significant period of development for CROGGI CIC. Alongside continuing our community activities, we have been building practical skills, strengthening partnerships and beginning to turn some of our ideas into more defined projects.

Developing Environmental Skills

A particularly exciting development has been completing a Tyro Training one-week City & Guilds training course in chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting and small-tree felling. The course combined classroom-based theory with practical training and examinations.

This training was sponsored by Hull International Carnival, through our developing collaboration with Martin Chinga, and represents an important investment in developing practical environmental skills within our network.

The purpose is not simply to gain qualifications, but to build the knowledge and confidence needed to participate responsibly in environmental conservation work. It gives us a stronger foundation from which to develop practical community projects involving woodland management, landscaping, habitat improvement and environmental maintenance.

Developing Stewardship Works CIC

Our environmental collaboration is now taking shape under the working name Stewardship Works CIC.

The developing concept is centred around environmental conservation, practical education and community stewardship. The intention is to provide opportunities for volunteers to learn practical environmental skills while contributing to useful work within the community.

Potential activities could include:

• Community landscaping and environmental maintenance

• Woodland and habitat management

• Practical conservation work

• Volunteer skills development

• Outdoor learning

• Supporting community spaces and local environmental projects

• Introducing people to responsible use of practical equipment

• Developing pathways into further training and environmental employment

The project is still at an early stage, and we intend to expand its scope gradually as the partnership becomes established. The emphasis will be on learning by doing, developing practical skills while making a visible contribution to the places where people live and work.

New Connection with Hull University

Another particularly encouraging development has been making contact with Dr Yanyi Lu, a leader within the Confucius Society at the University of Hull.

The conversation opened up several exciting possibilities for collaboration, including potential lion dancing performances at the university, as well as working with Lady Wang to explore activities such as public speaking and Qigong.

There was also interest in finding musicians to become involved, which could create another interesting avenue for cultural exchange and performance.

I am looking forward to developing a stronger relationship with the Confucius Society and exploring how university students, community members and cultural organisations could potentially work together.

Developing the Lady Wang Collaboration

Our collaboration with Lady Wang is also beginning to take shape.

We are currently working on developing her online presence and wider personal brand, while exploring how her knowledge and experience could be transformed into accessible community activities.

A new connection with Arji from India, an entrepreneur with experience in developing businesses and companies, has also opened up useful possibilities. We are currently working towards producing Lady Wang's first e-book, with the intention of using this as an initial version that can be refined before considering a longer-term paperback publication.

This is another example of how D-Circle can potentially connect people with different skills and backgrounds to create something that none of them might have developed independently.

Continuing Mahjong & Community Sessions

Our beginner Mahjong evenings have continued to be enjoyable and are proving to be a particularly good social activity.

We have changed the regular session from Sunday mornings to Friday evenings in an attempt to improve attendance and make the activity more accessible to people who may be working or otherwise occupied during the weekend.

The next step will be to promote the Mahjong Club more widely and see whether a more established group can develop around it.

Developing Safety & Safeguarding

We are also continuing to strengthen the practical foundations of CROGGI CIC.

A First Aid course is scheduled for later this month, and I am also progressing with obtaining a DBS certificate. These steps are particularly relevant as we expand our activities and begin working with a wider range of people and organisations.

Building the right skills and procedures alongside the activities themselves is becoming increasingly important. It is not enough simply to have good ideas; we need to develop the capability and responsible systems to deliver them properly.

Companies House & Organisational Development

Another milestone has been submitting our first Companies House confirmation statement.

The administrative side of establishing and maintaining a CIC has been a steep learning curve. Understanding Companies House requirements, governance, records, financial administration and the responsibilities attached to running a Community Interest Company has been a valuable learning experience.

Although administration can sometimes feel separate from the creative side of CROGGI, it is becoming increasingly clear that good organisational foundations are essential for sustainability.

Looking Ahead

The direction of travel is becoming clearer.

The immediate priorities are to:

• Promote and establish the Mahjong Club

• Develop classes and activities with Lady Wang

• Strengthen the relationship with the Confucius Society at the University of Hull

• Continue developing Stewardship Works CIC with Hull International Carnival

• Build our environmental conservation skills and volunteer network

• Complete First Aid and other relevant training

• Continue refining CROGGI CIC's policies, procedures and governance

• Develop stronger evidence of our activities and community impact

• Continue building relationships with organisations across Hull and beyond

• Explore sustainable ways for CROGGI CIC and its projects to grow

There is now a growing range of activity developing around CROGGI — community learning, culture, creativity, wellbeing, environmental stewardship, practical skills and digital innovation.

The challenge now is to bring these different strands together without losing the flexibility that makes D-Circle interesting. The aim is to keep experimenting, learning and connecting people while gradually developing projects that can stand on their own and create lasting value.

It feels like we are moving beyond the initial stage of simply asking “what could CROGGI become?” and increasingly entering a stage of testing, building partnerships and demonstrating what is possible.

Community Research Meeting – Connecting Community Voices with Adult Social Care

We were pleased to be invited by Luana Smith MBE, Chair of the Hon Lok Senior Association and a senior member of the Hull Chinese community, to attend an important community research and engagement meeting.

The meeting brought together a strong and diverse audience, including members of the BAME community and representatives from Hull City Council. Dr Franklin Onukwugha led an excellent presentation of the research findings, providing an opportunity to consider the experiences, needs and priorities emerging from the community.

An especially valuable aspect of the meeting was the involvement of Tracy Mayehoff, Director of Adult Social Care at Hull City Council, together with senior leaders and managers from Adult Social Care. The intention is to create further opportunities for older adults, informal carers and community leaders to meet with senior council representatives, discuss the research findings and explore what should happen next.

For CROGGI CIC, this was an important opportunity to listen and learn, but also to introduce our work and understand where we may be able to contribute. It highlighted the importance of creating stronger connections between community organisations, residents and statutory services, particularly when developing activities and services that respond to real local needs.

The meeting was also a valuable networking opportunity. There was considerable interest in CROGGI CIC and our developing work around the Chinese Cultural Centre, D-Circle, community activities and collaborative projects.

It was a positive reminder that community spaces can act as bridges between residents, voluntary organisations and public services. We hope to continue developing these relationships and look for practical ways in which CROGGI CIC and the Chinese Cultural Centre can contribute to this wider conversation.

Journal Update – Expanding Networks, Partnerships & Community Impact

Recent weeks have been incredibly active, with a growing number of meetings, introductions, and opportunities emerging across multiple sectors. There is a strong sense that momentum is building not just within CROGGI CIC, but across a wider network of organisations looking to collaborate and create longer-term impact.

Strengthening Sector Connections

I had the opportunity to attend a FORUM VCSE meeting, representing the Hon Lok Senior Association on behalf of Luana Smith MBE. This provided valuable insight into the breadth of projects currently taking place across the region and highlighted opportunities for collaboration.

A key takeaway from this session was the direction of Sport England, who are increasingly prioritising longer-term, sustainable projects over short-term or one-off events. This has sparked new ideas around how we can contribute to creating safer, more accessible public spaces, encouraging people to spend more time outdoors and engage in community-led activity.

Building Cultural & Community Partnerships

I also accompanied Luana Smith to a HANA Chair meeting, where we met with members and introduced our vision for developing the Chinese Cultural Centre. It was inspiring to learn about their existing work, including a fashion show and football event, as well as their community allotment supporting local families.

We are now developing a promising partnership with Lady Wang, a leadership coach with a wide range of skills and services that could significantly benefit the community. We are currently supporting improvements to her online presence while exploring long-term goals that aim to create meaningful, life-enhancing opportunities.

Developing a Vision for the Future

Work has begun on an early-stage concept proposal for a renewed Chinese Cultural Centre. Initial feedback from board members has been very positive. Our strategy is to:

• Gradually improve the current centre

• Demonstrate its potential through real activity and engagement

• Build a strong case for future funding and investment

This approach allows us to evidence impact while developing a longer-term vision grounded in practical outcomes.

Environmental & Community Engagement

We have also formed a partnership with Hull International Carnival, working together on environmental conservation-focused initiatives. As part of this collaboration, they have generously supported us with training in the safe use of equipment and first aid, strengthening our ability to deliver activities safely and responsibly.

In addition, we recently joined The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) for a hands-on session helping to clear woodland space intended for use as an outdoor classroom. The woodland has been developing for over eight years, and our work included:

• Clearing and maintaining pathways

• Supporting habitat creation for wildlife

• Thinning trees to promote healthier ecosystem growth

This was a valuable experience, and we are keen to continue building this relationship.

Increasing Engagement & Visibility

We were invited to attend a board meeting at the Hull Chinese Community Centre, where we received a warm welcome and reaffirmed our commitment to supporting the centre’s goals.

We also attended an environmental planning meeting organised by Hull Timebank, which highlighted complex local challenges around flooding, infrastructure, and economic pressures. This opened up another important area for engagement and collaboration.

There is potential for Hull Timebank to utilise the Chinese Cultural Centre as a central meeting space, further strengthening its role as a hub for community activity.

Looking Ahead

Across all these interactions, a clear theme is emerging:
There is strong interest in shared spaces, collaboration, and long-term community development.

Our focus moving forward will be to:

• Continue building relationships across sectors

• Support and host a wider range of activities within the centre

• Develop projects that are sustainable and impactful

• Position the Chinese Cultural Centre as a flexible, accessible, and community-driven space

This period has been one of learning, connection, and opportunity. The groundwork being laid now is opening doors to partnerships that have the potential to create lasting, positive change.

CROGGI CIC

Community Impact & Development Report 2025–2026

Community • Creativity • Circular Innovation

Reporting period: September 2025 – September 2026

1. Introduction

CROGGI CIC was established with the aim of developing practical, creative and community-led projects that bring people together, encourage participation and create opportunities for learning, creativity, enterprise and positive local change.

Our first year has been a period of testing, learning and building relationships.

Rather than attempting to launch a large programme immediately, CROGGI has developed through direct engagement with people and communities. This has allowed us to identify interests and needs, test small-scale activities, develop partnerships and understand where a community organisation such as CROGGI can add value.

Our work has increasingly demonstrated that community development is not always linear. Some opportunities have developed from planned projects, while others have emerged unexpectedly through relationships with people who needed practical support.

This report summarises what CROGGI has established so far, what we have learned and the opportunities we are now developing for the next stage.

2. Our first year at a glance

During the year CROGGI has:

• Established and maintained the D-Circle community activity programme

• Delivered regular Tea, Talk & Creativity sessions since September 2025

• Tested different creative, cultural and social activities

• Developed opportunities for individual creative projects and one-to-one engagement

• Built relationships with community organisations, volunteers, instructors and potential project partners

• Supported community members with practical voluntary assistance where unexpected needs have arisen

• Assisted individuals with practical administration, including support with benefit-related applications

• Begun exploring how community-based support could help people experiencing difficulties within their own homes

• Developed environmental and community-gardening opportunities through emerging partnerships

• Supported participation in community and nature-based activity, including a York nature visit

• Developed a growing network of people willing to contribute specialist knowledge and skills

• Established a foundation from which CROGGI can expand its programme of community learning and participation

The significance of the year is therefore not simply the number of activities delivered. It is the infrastructure, experience, relationships and learning that have been established.

3. D-Circle – our first sustained community programme

Tea, Talk & Creativity

Since September 2025, CROGGI has maintained regular Tea, Talk & Creativity sessions through D-Circle.

Sessions are approximately two hours long and provide an informal environment where people can meet, talk, learn, share interests and participate in creative activities.

The programme has deliberately remained small and accessible while we have tested the format.

Activity to date

2 hours
Typical length of each session

Fortnightly
Regular session pattern established since September 2025

Weekly
Frequency increased during the most recent month

7 people
Highest attendance at a single group session

Around 4 people
Typical group attendance

1–2 people
Smaller sessions providing opportunities for focused conversation and individual project development

1–7 people
Recorded attendance range across sessions

The attendance figures should be understood in the context of D-Circle being a pilot and developing community programme, rather than a large established service.

A significant achievement has been maintaining the opportunity consistently, including when attendance has been small.

Smaller sessions have provided opportunities to develop relationships, understand individual interests and work with participants on their own creative ideas.

This experience has reinforced our belief that community impact cannot always be measured simply by the number of people attending an event.

For some people, a small and welcoming environment can be an important first step towards participation, confidence, creativity and connection.

4. What we have learned from the D-Circle pilot

The first year has helped CROGGI understand several important principles.

Consistency matters

A regular opportunity gives people the chance to participate when they are ready. Not everyone will attend every session, but maintaining the opportunity allows relationships to develop over time.

Small groups have value

Small attendance can create opportunities for more personal interaction and individual project development.

People bring their own interests and abilities

Participants are not simply recipients of activities. They can contribute knowledge, interests, culture, creativity and ideas of their own.

Community projects develop organically

Some of the most useful opportunities have emerged through conversations and relationships rather than from an original project plan.

These lessons are influencing how CROGGI intends to develop its next stage of activity.

5. Expanding the programme

The pilot has created a foundation from which CROGGI can now begin to increase participation.

Our next stage will involve greater promotion through:

• community partners

• local networks

• social media

• local advertising

• word-of-mouth

• partner organisations and venues

We are also developing a wider programme of activities.

People with skills and experience have already expressed an interest in becoming involved in areas including:

• Arts and creative activities

• Textiles and sewing

• Life coaching and personal development

• Leadership and confidence-building

• Community gardening

• Environmental skills

• Crafts and practical making

• Cultural learning

• Shared knowledge and skills

This gives CROGGI the opportunity to move from a small pilot towards a broader community learning, creativity and participation programme.

6. Responding to real community needs

One of the most important developments during the year has not been a planned programme at all.

Through relationships developed within the community, CROGGI has encountered individuals experiencing significant difficulties with everyday life.

In response, volunteers have provided practical assistance including:

• PA-style voluntary support

• help with everyday tasks

• assistance with forms and applications

• support with Attendance Allowance applications

• practical assistance within the home

• companionship and time

• signposting and helping people understand available services

These experiences have highlighted an important area of potential future development for CROGGI.

In some situations, people can require practical help that sits between formal services and the everyday realities of managing their lives.

CROGGI is therefore beginning to explore how it could develop appropriate and sustainable forms of community-based practical support, while working alongside existing council, health and voluntary-sector services rather than attempting to replace professional services.

This work remains exploratory. Any future development would need to be appropriately structured, safeguarded and delivered within a clearly defined community role.

However, the experience has demonstrated the value of a small organisation that is able to listen, respond and adapt to emerging needs.

7. Creativity, culture and intergenerational participation

CROGGI's approach is deliberately broader than conventional activity provision.

Through D-Circle and related projects, we have explored activities including:

• Chinese calligraphy and painting

• chess

• beginner mahjong

• poetry and storytelling

• origami

• upcycling

• tea and shared food

• cultural exchange

• creative experimentation

• informal digital and AI learning

The intention is to create opportunities for people of different backgrounds, ages and abilities to share knowledge.

Our approach particularly values the exchange between Far East and East Yorkshire, using cultural activity as a way of creating conversation and connection.

8. Environmental and outdoor community development

During the year, CROGGI's relationships with community partners have also opened opportunities in environmental and outdoor activity.

A nature-based visit to York provided participants with an opportunity to experience the natural environment and develop connections beyond the immediate community setting.

Partnership working has subsequently opened discussions around:

• community gardens

• outdoor volunteering

• environmental conservation

• land clearance and maintenance

• practical environmental skills

• volunteer participation

• community stewardship

CROGGI is also exploring opportunities to work alongside partners in developing dedicated environmental and stewardship projects.

This represents an important extension of our Circular Innovation approach: using community participation to create practical environmental benefit while developing skills and opportunities for volunteers.

9. Partnership development

A major achievement of the first year has been the development of relationships beyond CROGGI's original network.

Partnership discussions and collaborative activity have created opportunities involving:

• community organisations

• cultural organisations

• environmental initiatives

• instructors and skills providers

• volunteers

• local venues

• community event organisers

• potential funders and supporters

These relationships have helped CROGGI access opportunities that would not have been possible by working in isolation.

They have also demonstrated the importance of partnership rather than duplication.

Where another organisation already has expertise, facilities or connections, CROGGI can potentially contribute coordination, project development, community engagement, creativity and practical delivery.

10. Developing people and volunteers

CROGGI's development has also created opportunities for people with their own skills, interests and experience to contribute.

We are developing a model in which people can become involved as:

• volunteers

• activity instructors

• project contributors

• community facilitators

• mentors

• specialist skills providers

• project partners

This provides a route for people to contribute their existing abilities while potentially developing new experience themselves.

As the organisation grows, CROGGI intends to strengthen its volunteer framework, safeguarding arrangements, risk management and role descriptions so that participation can grow responsibly.

11. What the pilot has achieved

The first year has established several foundations for future development.

We have demonstrated delivery

CROGGI has moved from concept into regular community activity and has maintained that activity over an extended period.

We have tested a model

D-Circle has provided a real-world pilot through which CROGGI has been able to test participation, activities, venues, relationships and different approaches to engagement.

We have built relationships

The organisation now has a developing network of community members, volunteers, instructors and partner organisations.

We have identified further demand and opportunity

Conversations and practical experiences have identified opportunities in community support, creativity, environmental activity, skills development and cultural participation.

We have demonstrated adaptability

CROGGI has responded to emerging community needs rather than restricting itself to a predetermined programme.

We have created a platform for growth

The organisation now has experience and relationships upon which a more structured programme can be built.

12. What we have not yet achieved

We believe it is important to be honest about the stage of our development.

CROGGI is still a young organisation and D-Circle remains a developing pilot.

We have not yet reached large-scale participation, nor do we claim to have solved the wider issues faced by the communities we work with.

Our impact evidence is currently strongest in relation to:

• activity delivered

• consistency

• participation

• relationships developed

• individual engagement

• emerging partnerships

• volunteer involvement

• practical experiences and learning

The next stage will focus on improving how we record and demonstrate longer-term outcomes.

This will allow us to move beyond measuring activity towards understanding changes in areas such as:

• confidence

• social connection

• skills

• wellbeing

• participation

• independence

• volunteering

• environmental engagement

• progression into further opportunities

13. Priorities for the next year

CROGGI's next stage will focus on consolidating what has been learned and increasing our reach.

Our priorities are to:

1. Increase participation

Promote D-Circle more actively through partners, community networks and local advertising.

2. Expand activities

Introduce more structured creative, cultural, personal-development and practical skills sessions.

3. Develop instructors and volunteers

Create clearer routes for skilled people to contribute to CROGGI projects.

4. Develop environmental projects

Progress community-garden, conservation and stewardship opportunities.

5. Explore practical community support

Continue learning from experiences of supporting individuals while establishing appropriate boundaries, safeguarding and delivery structures.

6. Strengthen partnerships

Work collaboratively with organisations that can provide specialist knowledge, facilities, referrals, funding or community reach.

7. Improve impact measurement

Introduce simple and proportionate monitoring of attendance, participation, activities, volunteer involvement and outcomes.

8. Build funding readiness

Use the experience of the pilot to develop stronger project plans, budgets, evidence and funding applications.

14. Why funding would make a difference

The first year has demonstrated that CROGGI can begin projects at a modest scale, learn from direct experience and develop opportunities through community relationships.

Funding would allow the organisation to move from this early experimental stage towards greater consistency, reach and measurable impact.

Potential investment could support:

• venue and session costs

• materials and equipment

• instructor and facilitator costs

• volunteer expenses and training

• safeguarding and DBS-related requirements

• publicity and community outreach

• environmental and gardening equipment

• accessibility

• project coordination

• monitoring and evaluation

The aim would not simply be to increase the number of activities.

Investment would help CROGGI develop the capacity, structure and reach required to turn successful small-scale experiments into sustainable community projects.

15. Looking ahead

CROGGI's first year has shown us that meaningful community development often begins with something very simple: creating an opportunity for people to meet, talk, contribute and be heard.

From a small Tea, Talk & Creativity pilot, CROGGI has developed a wider network of relationships and opportunities spanning creativity, culture, practical support, personal development and environmental activity.

We are still at an early stage.

That is also our opportunity.

We now have practical experience, relationships, ideas and people willing to contribute. The next phase is about turning those foundations into more accessible, better-promoted and more structured opportunities for the wider community.

CROGGI's ambition is to grow carefully, remain community-led and develop projects that create real participation, practical skills, stronger connections and positive local impact.

Community • Creativity • Circular Innovation

CROGGI CIC
Hull, East Yorkshire
2025–2026