The Love Your Place programme made me really think about what people actually want rather than an idea that I thought people wanted. It made me realise that research and talking to people is so important. The aim of our project changed as we began to understand what the actual problem was.
Cohort 1 participant
Love Your Place helps you step back and really test the original motivation behind the project.
Cohort 1 participant
Love Your Place helps you determine what the actual problem is (rather than what you perceive it to be). Then, you methodically work through the actions needed to progress your project.
Cohort 1 participant
Love Your Place helps define practical actions related to more defined outcomes.
Cohort 1 participant
Love Your Place adds rigour to business ideas and plans. It offered me a 'safe space' to talk about my ideas and issues.
Cohort 1 participant
Love Your Place motivated us to collect more evidence about our ideas.
Cohort 1 participant
Love Your Place gave me access to valuable external perspectives, helping me balance solution-driven ideas with clearly defined problem statements.
Cohort 1 participant
Love Your Place forced me (in a positive way) to take a few steps back while driving ahead from a commercial perspective.
Cohort 1 participant
As Chair of Botley Parish Council, I have been very pleased with the positive support the FTIH team has provided to my community. In 2023, one of our aims was to demonstrate that the River Hamble was safe to swim in. This engagement led to an early research project facilitated by FTIH being tested in the parish on the river, the results of which contributed to a subsequent OfWAT bid led by FTIH. Additionally, FTIH are hosting Botley as a Destination in cohort 2 of the Love Your Place programme. Knowing we are in very capable hands - experienced in managing the complexity of changing places (Botley will undergo significant changes with the new bypass opening in Summer 2027) - gives me confidence that we can make Botley a successful, thriving and welcoming community.
Cllr Chris Cooper, Botley Parish Council