This chapter outlines some preliminary focus group research conducted at a tea party and a lunch. The purpose of the research was for community agencies to gather information about the health and advice needs of older people living on a council housing estate in Bristol. Another aim, and the focus of this discussion, was to capture some memories and experiences of older people living on an estate, since they are the carriers of living social histories and can tell us something about the deeper dimensions of the estate's changing identity. Residents seem to be grappling with dilemmas surrounding the expression of their needs and hopes. These include the dilemma of retaining and representing feelings of pride and hope for community renewal in the light of positive community initiatives in the area; hope that is also associated with nostalgic memories and narratives of the estate at its best. However, in the current climate of public spending cuts, they are also struggling with under-resourcing and ineffective or problematic local policies in the face of rapid social change. There is a strong desire to connect with and understand newcomers to the area, including young families, migrants and refugees and the different cultures they bring, but many feel that they need support in terms of adequate amenities and more responsive councillors who really listen and act on their suggestions, which are derived from long experience of the area.

A whole range of people were involved in this project, from the residents themselves to community workers, volunteers from Social Science in the City, and social science students from the University of the West of England (UWE) (for details, see the Acknowledgements). The chapter presents some findings from this collaborative effort, a project that, in itself, reflects a concern to reach out to, connect with, learn from and understand the feelings behind community development in the face of rapid social change. This preliminary research project was funded by Quartet and UWE's Better Together Fund. It involved a focus group, tea-table discussion followed by another, smaller focus group discussion over a fish-and-chip lunch. Both events were organised in partnership with an Advice Centre, a local National Health Service (NHS) Trust, students and members of Social Science in the City.