Matti’s mission to help improve city life
LocalMotion Lincoln is an organisation that brings communities together to benefit from joined up thinking, pooled resources and long-term collaboration.
It’s work has often been featured on Hello Lincoln and its sister publication Lincoln Independent, but in the age of having to repeat your message 70 times to get it across, we want to keep highlighting its work. After all the city has one of only six LocalMotion networks in the country and the work it does is designed to have a lasting impact on our communities.
MATTI COLLEY is passionate about the various projects of LocalMotion and is its social media advocate so who better to give us a personal perspective of its work?
LocalMotion Lincoln is a movement with space to think differently.
We’re constantly learning and reflecting on core questions such as: “How can we, as community members, drive through positive long-term change that helps bring about more social and economic prosperity whilst safeguarding the city’s green spaces for future generations?”
Changemakers from across Lincoln who are involved in the movement have many different ideas to address that question.
We recently held an event at Bridge Church Central (near Pelham Bridge) where we started the process of reviewing our Local Plan.
During the event, I made a point that we need more clubs and welcoming spaces for people to have the room and support to dream big across the city.
A friend of mine, Gabby Wright from The Network Lincoln pointed out to me the other day that between 2010 and 2023, around 1,200 youth centres across England and Wales closed and 4,500 youth workers lost their jobs.
My local Birchwood Library closed during the same period and is now a Breakthrough Centre run by the Ignite Church which is only open 2 days week.
I remember going to the Library every Friday afternoon to do my extra reading for my A-Levels. I would never have got into the University of York to study English and Philosophy without having those afternoons of exploring books and challenging thoughts and ideas.
So I thought, well wouldn’t it be amazing to have a holistic Hub in Birchwood that’s open 7 days a week? That was there to help provide a warm, welcoming and empowering space for people who are feeling lonely or socially isolated on a Saturday as well as on a Tuesday?
I think so.
I also wholeheartedly believe that everyone has the right to be involved in projects and programmes to bring about positive change.
It doesn’t matter what background you have, how formally educated you are or which area of the city you come from: if you have an idea about how to help our city to flourish, you should have the opportunity to share it.
When I was first asked to join LocalMotion Lincoln’s quest by our coordinator Charlotte Brooks (who has poured her heart and soul into providing opportunities for people from across Lincoln to engage), I came across a quote from former US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face”.
It can be daunting to put yourself out there, in any capacity, to help bring about a better future. Especially when you’re perceived by many to be an outsider.
I have to be honest: I wasn’t really sure whether I’d be listened to.
I thought that some members of the LocalMotion Lincoln movement would think I didn’t have much to contribute and would just end up “tolerating” my involvement.
The fact I was welcomed with open arms made me feel like I could really trust in the power of the movement to move towards systems change.
I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of projects, including being part of the amazing team of creatives that designed the Lincoln Horizons newspaper, which I hope you enjoyed reading!
You see, systems change is not about empty buzzwords or learning endless amounts of theory.
Systems change happens when you build relationships. And it happens in our community hubs and cafes as much as in our council offices and boardrooms.
Building relationships allows us to strive to be radically honest in all of our conversations and help us to be less afraid of making mistakes in our practice.
Because nobody owns the whole truth. No one political party or ideological grouping has all the answers.
We listen without a hidden agenda and we are passionate about handing power back to our amazing communities.
Lincoln’s flourishing future is in our hands. And I’d love you to join us on our quest.
If you’d like to find out more about LocalMotion Lincoln, check out our website at https://localmotion.org.uk/lincoln/ or email us at
The picture above shows Matti and friends at the launch of the Lincoln Horizons newspaper.