ETHOS & STRUCTURE

Aim

To encourage communities in South Lakeland to provide a network of assistance and support to other members of their defined area in times of need. This network would involve named individuals in that locale making a commitment to help with small services for those in need, identified by their group co-ordinator.

Scheme Structure

As with any organisation that operates as individual units over a wide area, a basic structure that is common to all is essential. Within that structure, individual Friends & Neighbours schemes may offer a wide-ranging level of local support, depending on their group capability or enthusiasm. Providing the basic tenets are adhered to, then each group is free to develop in whatever way the members feel comfortable with. It is envisaged that most will operate roughly on the lines of, and areas covered by, current Neighbourhood Watch schemes. For those NW groups currently operating who may be interested in our scheme, it may be useful to think of Friends & Neighbours as "Neighbourhood Watch Plus", that is, crime prevention plus a means of improving community wellbeing by self-support.

The following bullet points provide the basic framework that all should follow:

- Each group should have a named co-ordinator who collates information regarding need within their locale, and retains a list of members who have pledged to provide specific types of help within it. Where a scheme covers a fairly wide area, then it may be advisable to have block, or zone co-ordinators who feedback information to the group co-ordinator. The area covered by each group would be defined by them and indicated on a local street plan.

- Members of each FaNS group will complete a registration form giving name, contact details and the type of help they are willing to offer to their neighbourhood. The proforma will give some specific types of help that can be offered, with space for additions that members may feel they could provide. This gives each group the opportunity to develop their own individual community provision. Completed forms will be held by the co-ordinator.

- When a friend or neighbour hears of a resident in need of help or support in a short-term situation (excluding those that are provided normally by Social Services or Community Health Services), then this would be fed back to the co-ordinator, who would in turn contact a relevant group member who had offered to provide this service. For example, if there is an elderly person who normally has transport to appointments, or shopping done by relatives, but who’s family is away on holiday, then FaNS could step in and provide that safety net until the situation returns to normal.

- From the list of group providers, the co-ordinator would contact a member offering that specific help and put both in contact with each other. Within small defined areas, it is likely that most neighbours would be familiar to each other prior to this arrangement.

- Whilst it is important to provide structured support arrangements for your community, the aim is to keep these arrangements simple. This is primarily to ensure wider support from community members, who may be reluctant to become involved in a more formal committee set-up. However, it is suggested that each group carries out an annual review of members and their agreed provision to ensure that information is up to date.

- The Steering Group, who will be responsible for ensuring that each individual group maintains the basic ethos, will meet six-monthly. Initially though, this will occur more frequently until the system is running effectively throughout South Lakeland.

The Steering Group consists of representatives from:
- Cumbria County Council Neighbourhood Development
- Age Concern
- South Lakeland District Council
- Stricklandgate House Trust
- South Lakes Volunteer Centre
- South Lakeland Carers Association
- Community Police Team
- The current mayor, Councillor Marilyn Molloy

The free Communigate Website link-up for each individual Friends and Neighbours Group is an option made available by the Westmorland Gazette. This would allow noticeboard information to be accessible to group members, and updates could be posted if desired. Any social or community events could also be made known to local residents. Access is available at the library or free in the entrance to the Westmorland Gazette offices for those who do not have a home computer. Further information is available from Kate Whiteside, the Gazette’s Website Manager.

It is envisaged that other agencies may interact with the Friends & Neighbours scheme for the good of both parties. For example, Age Concern wish to establish links with their volunteers to strengthen their community network and local secondary schools would like to encourage their students’ involvement with the scheme as part of Citizenship classes and awards.