Deprived part of a city with challenges. A resident – my Airbnb host – had a vision: restore a beautiful Victorian street fountain which had been knocked over in 1928. Revitalize civic pride and bring back some beauty to the neighbourhood. Council said: not enough money, not a priority. So Simon set to work. Wrote a catchy song about being proud to live in the town, and taught it to children at local schools. Developed “name-a-brick” for brickwork around the proposed fountain. Once the pupils were excited, their parents responded. Local businesses offered to help. Others volunteered to sponsor a brick. The councillors realized something was afoot; suddenly matching funds were found. The National Lottery chipped in. Two years later the grand re-opening of the fountain was celebrated, to everyone’s delight. There was enough credit around for everybody to say that they’d had the idea and made it happen! And the neighbourhood is improving...

Constituencies for change can be always built, with enough imagination.