The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Community Facilitator
Being a Community Facilitator for the Future Parks Accelerator (FPA) Project is a role filled with purpose, passion, and—sometimes—loneliness. As the final stage of the FPA project that looked at urban nature development comes to a close, I am asking those involved in the project to reflect on their experience for the final report. So I thought I should do the same. When you read about how to write a reflective piece, one of the most important words is honesty – it says “Write about your feelings – Be honest.” Now there is professional honesty, sharing all the facts and being transparent and then there is personal honesty and “soul searching” and that can be much harder. But I can’t ask people to do what I can’t do myself. Recent conversations with some very wonderful people have encouraged me to tell my story, so I will go first, here goes.
I have loved all my involvement with the project starting in 2019 pre COVID through and out the other side, with all the challenges that brought. I have felt so inspired by the people I have worked with, chatted to, read about, listened to and explored nature with. Those people range from fun loving dragon hunting under fives to community elders with super powers for making peoples lives better everyday even in the least green places in the city and so many beautiful people in between. Everyone I have encountered has been welcoming, kind and some have become good friends. However in my day to day work I can still sometimes feel very alone, although I seldom am. This isn’t poor me, it’s just the nature of the work, let me explain the title of this Blog.
My work revolves around bringing people together, forging partnerships, and inspiring collective action to enhance our green spaces. But, paradoxically, the very act of facilitation often places me in a space where I am the connector, yet outside of the connections themselves.
Unlike those who work in close-knit teams or have a consistent workplace routine, my days are spent navigating multiple communities, shifting between different priorities, and adapting to various local needs. One morning might involve meeting volunteers in a pocket park, while the afternoon is dedicated to policy discussions with the local authority. This constant movement means that, while I interact with countless individuals, I rarely have the comfort of a steady support network in my daily work.
The challenge of being a long-distance facilitator is not just physical, but emotional too. Communities look to me for guidance, yet I often have to be a neutral party—encouraging, but not imposing; leading, but not owning. The success of a project is measured by the strength of the relationships I help foster, yet when the work is done, I must step back and let communities take ownership. It is a role of deep investment, but one that requires an eventual detachment.
But despite these challenges, there is a unique joy in this work. Seeing an idea take root in a community, watching people come together to transform their local green space, and knowing that I played a small part in making it happen is incredibly fulfilling. The loneliness is countered by the knowledge that each connection I help build leaves a lasting impact, even if I’m not always at the centre of it.
The Future Parks Project is not just about the parks—it’s about the people who bring them to life. And as a Community Facilitator, I have the privilege of being the unseen thread weaving those relationships together. The journey may sometimes feel solitary, but the legacy is one of collective belonging.
So, to all those working tirelessly behind the scenes, facilitating change without always being part of the community they serve—know that you are not alone. The connections you create are real, and the impact you have is lasting. And in that, we find our sense of joy and belonging.
Deborah Needle
Community Facilitator FPA / UND / City of Nature Programme
Naturally Birmingham Future Parks Project 