Stella's 'Ob-log'

Exploring the inspirational ways a grassroots community group lets its values lead the way

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Stella Darby

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Recent Posts

Little ol’ Oblong vs. global neoliberal capitalism?
Designing research together: it’s complicated
Making ends meet…is it worth it?
A closer look at Oblong
Why write a PhD…about Oblong?

This blog is about Oblong Community Resource Centre, based at Woodhouse Community Centre in Leeds. I’m writing a PhD all about Oblong – I hope this blog will help! I want to explore how Oblong deals with the pressures we all face in our work – finances, time, “the system” – using its own values as guiding principles.

Begun in 1996 by unemployed people wanting to make a difference in their neighbourhood, Oblong has expanded to include six part-time paid staff and about sixty volunteers. Volunteers take part in and run projects like English classes, community gardening, arts and crafts, graphic design, video production, a cinema, fun time for kids and parents, a food co-op, and helping run the centre – plus others. Oblong is funded mostly by charity grants and partly by letting out space at Woodhouse Community Centre. The Centre receives about 300 visits from volunteers and users each week. In 2011 Oblong refurbished this large facility and took over its management from Leeds City Council, including maintenance and loan repayments for the refurbishment expenses.

Notably, Oblong operates on a non-hierarchical basis – there’s no boss! – and defines its core values as equality, empowerment, collectivity, respect and care, sustainability, and being community-led.

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