News from New Parks
I have been trying to find out what types of consultation have been undertaken locally over the past few years and what has changed as a result. In truth, the area seems to have undergone ‘consultation overload’ over the past few years, often with same/similar results found by all agencies undertaking consultation, but with seemingly little ‘joined-up’ response to the results. Consequently, some local people have understandably become disillusioned and cynical, believing nothing will ever change. Who can blame them?
In order to try to start again to motivate community spirit, we have already run a number of events:
An ‘Environmental Action Day’ – hopefully joining-up volunteers with City Cleansing to ‘Neaten-Up New Parks’.
An ‘Event In a Tent’ – a community fun day to let the community have their say
about services provided locally at present.
‘Street Parties’ – to integrate very local people in a fun and safe way.
‘Be Informed’ Project – Multi-agency door-knocking to advertise local services.
‘Accreditation’ scheme – to offer national recognition awards to those volunteering in Neighbourhood Management activities.
‘Community Payback’- for local offenders to perform their community service locally, hopeful of them gaining recognised accreditation for their work.
‘Axlr8’ Project – 136 young people aged 13-17 years participating in a fun diversion project around motorbike skills.
Hopefully this gives you a flavour of what the Neighbourhood Management Team are about and why we want to give this our ‘best shot’. We would welcome assistance in continuing what we have started from anyone who echoes our own passion, no matter how small the contribution. Together, we believe that with dedication and belief, this time we can make a difference. Divided we can’t.
Chrissie Field
Neighbourhood Manager
