Two men passionate about making a difference to Scunthorpe have launched an innovative community network in a bid to bring people together and bring change to the town they feel has “so much more potential”.
Scunthorpe Tomorrow has been in the making since early last year, when founders Rob Allen – who was born and bred in Scunthorpe – and Tyrone Curran – who is originally from South Africa but now lives in the area – first met, and discussed their ambitions to bring change and more opportunities to the people of Scunthorpe.
The group now meet once a month to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the town, and have amassed more than 100 members from all walks of life, each of whom have a shared vision to achieve a better future for people in North Lincolnshire.
Speaking to Scunthorpe Live, founder Rob said: “I’m Scunthorpe born and bred and I stayed locally until I went to uni. Like quite a lot of people, I felt like I had to leave the area for more work opportunities. I spent my career in government, which I couldn’t really do locally, but I still care so much about Scunthorpe. All my family and a lot of my friends still live there, and I’m really proud to be from Scunthorpe. I make a point of saying that to everyone I meet.
“Having lived away for almost as long as I lived locally, that gave me a perspective on the town and some of the challenges but also the genuine opportunities there. I’ve been really lucky with the career I’ve had giving me certain skills, experiences and professional relationships, and I wanted to give something back to the town.”
After meeting Tyrone, the pair decided to launch Scunthorpe Tomorrow, and had their first meeting in June last year.
“The idea of the network was connecting people, because I thought, I can’t be the only person who thinks this way,” Rob said.
“There’s a ton of people still living in the area or away who are really passionate about the place, and feel it has so much more potential, so it was really about connecting people.
“The second element of the group was about taking action. We’re a group of people from all different walks of life, but we’ve all got relationships and skills and experience that we can connect to local projects and be a bit of a resource for the town.
“The final thing is trying to change the narrative, dispel the negative stereotypes and tell a different story about Scunthorpe, that is respectful of our history and is really optimistic about the future. There’s a lot to be positive about.
(Image: Scunthorpe Tomorrow)
“The area we feel we can make the biggest difference is creating opportunities for young people in the town, and providing inspiration and sources of advice. We want to make our website a resource for young people and showcase different career options and people who have been successful in Scunthorpe.”
The group will host its first ever public event – Scunthorpe Place Lab – from 9am to 1pm on Friday, October 18 at the Oasis Community Space on Avenue Vivian, Scunthorpe.
With just a few tickets remaining here, the event will include inspiring talks, networking opportunities and the chance for members of the public to share and brainstorm their ideas and collaborate with others on projects.
Co-founder Tyrone said: “It’s just a morning to inspire people and tell people who we are. There will be panel conversations, and the whole theme is about the role that we each can take to create a better future for Scunthorpe. We can all make positive changes for the benefit of our community as a whole.”
To learn more about Scunthorpe Tomorrow and find out how you can join, click here.
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
