CANVASSING
Support our young people in East Bergholt

Report to YP committee, Marion Burns & Mark Hurley, 07.07.2026

Canvassing took place from May to July and focussed on Constable Gardens and the Elm
Estate.
We started canvassing together – but subsequently found it easier (because of agreeing times)
to canvass alone.
We found that precise timing was crucial to find parents with time to talk
We found that people were happy to talk to us and positive about the parish council/this topic.
In particular, the people we spoke to in Constable Gardens were generally positive and felt
welcomed to the village.
We didn’t encounter any negativity.
We believe the exercise was successful in large part because it was properly planned and we
had the correct materials – thanks to Cllr Hurley for providing the expertise on that.

Questions asked:
1. Did you know that the parish council funds a weekly youth club in the village and also
supports the toddler group at the church?
2. Are those things that affect anyone in your home?
3. Do you think those are a good use of parish council money?
4. Do you have any ideas for other ways that the parish council could support young
people in the village?
5. Might you be interested in volunteering to help?

We delivered 70-100 leaflets to homes where no-one was home. That resulted in one person
getting in touch. That person’s responses are included in the results below.
We had 22 doorstep conversations.

RESULTS

Question 1 Yes – 5 No – 16 Didn’t answer – 2
Question 2 Yes – 14 No – 9
Question 3 Yes – 23 No – 0
Question 5 Yes – 4 No – 19

Question 4 (ideas)
NB: It is very hard to put specific numbers on these comments as our conversations were broad
– and some people had more than one thought. But the table below attempts to
categorise/prioritise what people had to say.

Number of respondents Broad answer Detail
4+ Better/more playgrounds or
playgroups
Improvements to playground
on Constable Gardens estate
– specifically swings for
babies/toddlers (2 people)
Another playgroup on a
different day/soft play for
babies-toddlers (2 people)
One person mentioned
having more outdoor
activities available
5+ Road safety A Zebra crossing to allow
safe crossing of B1070 from
Constable Gardens to
primary school (1 person)
Safer roads generally to allow
for family cycling (1 person)
Better parking arrangements
on Elm Estate to allow safer
playing space besides
houses/Children Playing
signs at entrance to estate (1
person – see email)
Better street lighting in more
built-up areas (1 person)
Better public transport
2 Subsidised holiday activities Half term and summer
holidays mentioned
specifically
1 + Help for teens finding work Part time work while studying.
Also work experience.
Perhaps a register of local
businesses willing to offer
such. Or some sort of careers
fair.
A mentoring programme

1 + Better advertising of what
there is now
More targeted advertising –
not everyone is on Facebook
(mentioned more than once)
A village event to showcase
all groups/organisations – a
bit like fair but village groups
specifically
1 Happy with everything as it is
1 + Kids grown up but think more
could be done for kids in
village now

1 + Don’t know