Caring-with Cities
Caring—with rather than —about or —for moves beyond understandings of care as a provision from institutions to individuals, or from individual to individual, which positions the cared—for as passive recipients.
The project takes this possibility to the urban realm to understand how care can be embedded as a value into existing and future cities. Caring—with Cities aims to understand how care is embedded into community-led and policy-led urban development, the interface between the two, and how it can be designed into future urban policy at a systemic level. Achieving a caring city needs to emerge and be sustained through care-full interfaces between city dwellers and policymakers.
Dr Marianna Cavada led the Lancaster case study, which explored practices with the Lancaster City Vision. James Wilkie, Secretary of Lancaster Civic Vision said:
“We are delighted to have been invited to participate in this initiative. It aligns with our belief that a move towards community-led development and greater citizen engagement and influence are critical to the achieving the ambition of Lancaster becoming an exemplar sustainable city”.
The Lancaster Civic Vision case study builds on the previous collaboration between the Lancaster City Council, Lancaster County Council, and the University of Lancaster (LICA) including participants exploring areas of urban matters, policy, and design using participation methods. The Caring with Cities project brought about the opportunity to engage community-led organisations in conversations with the Community Conversations team within Lancaster City Council (LCC). Lancaster Civic Vision (LCV) is part of the Community Groups aiming to promote and encourage initiatives—relating to the quality of life, architecture and planning, heritage, and economic development and regeneration. Lancaster Civic Vision has positioned itself as a community resource to assist and nudge LCC with campaigns on urban matters.
