BurtonJoyceBlogger
Genealogy/Timeline website - www,brianalvey.co.uk
TWO minutes prior to sunset in S Notts 16/11/2012
Are the days of NHW as we have known it - OVER?
The advent of the digital revolution several
years ago have had life changing consequences for us as a nation an individuals
I will go out on a limb and suggest that the
many NHW Co-ordinators and schemes members thro-out the UK are also
experiencing the results of the changes
Consider their role in improving the
welfare/safety of their immediate neighbours and community. In the past,
adopting the initiative of EYES EARS & GRAPEVINE was probably the
most viable, important and significant aspect of their local crime
prevention/solving role.
In todays environment, I would
suggest that a greater emphasis by the NHW Schemes &; membership, will very
probably be the "social" well being of their community and individual.
Why do I say this ?
The advent of instant digital communication,
several years ago, was instrumental in the creation and introduction of the
"local" (Nottingham) NEIGHBOURHOOD ALERT initiative.
In its basic form, this initiative was
introduced to the Police & NHW, as a proposal and ground breaking
pro-active scheme for assisting crime prevention/solving.
This scheme proposed/designed/suggested
by a local NHW Co-ordinator "Mike Douglas" was the introduction of
digital technology for assisting the well being of the individual and community
by notifying them promptly and directly with matters of concern, assessed
and considered as relevant by the local Police and there relevant
Administrations
"Mike Douglas" the Co-ordinator was
particularly perturbed with the fact that issues of immediate concern and the
"well being" of members and the community were NOT ( at that
time ) being relayed promptly to the individual and communities, which were
probably likely to be affected or could indirectly assist/ be involved in
improving/resolving a situation.
In OCTOBER 2012 it was
announced that the "Neighbourhood Alert" scheme ( nationally) had attained a membership of 144.000
with 1,500,000 messages sent out, direct in that month alone.
The important
figure is 144,000
" Neighbourhood
Alerts" were out sent out direct to over 144,000 individuals in the UK
during October of this year and numbered in excess of 1,500,000.
YES thats 1.5 million "Alerts" despatched via and as a result
of social media
However I now understand that it is suggested
there is approx just under 5 Million NHW members now in the UK
There is an obvious shortfall in the numbers of
NHW members who have signed-up to or receive the Neighbourhood Alerts -
SHAME. What does this appear to tell us -
One of three things
1)There is a need for more NHW members to become digital
minded or connected
2) There is a large potential available within the
NHW who should be recruited into the NHA system
3)There is an enormous number of potential
households in the UK not in the NHW who could be recruited to the NHA /
NHW scheme
HOWEVER to achieve this requires - Community & Establishment PRO -ACTIVITY!
Here is a suggestion a new initiative
"MEET! GREET ! INVITE ! UNITE ! "
The initiative is to mobilise the
single most effective means of improving, developing, safer, greater community
engagement in all areas of our county towns villages,urban
,sub-urban & rural areas
There is a obvious need by those with influence to
actually "get out" into the communities and develop " face
to face " engagement with the man /woman on the streets
There is a need to show those in positions of
influence there is a "want-to", "need-to", establish "face to
face" contact and dialogue with the communities
What is the most effective/economical way of
achieving this.? Taking a leaf out of the "Politicians Electioneering
handbook " and physically getting out into the county, shaking hands
/spreading the message and therby "enrolling" recruits for the cause, be it
the NHA/NHW/Police/ CVS/Community Life
Will this be Costly? - absolutely NOT !
All it needs is the commitment by those who really
care about the interests and safety of all those in our communities, within our
county, to join together with combining their joint resources - and make it happen
Yes, it will require a little
finance and personal commitment and it cannot/will not happen "over
night". However, I am sure there will be sufficient vested interest within
NOTTSWATCH, CNNHWC, our POLICE, COUNCILS, COMMERCE etc to make itg happen
By investng a little time and effort to organise a"battle bus", "road shows",
"meet and greets" - and by utilising existing resources of materials,
membership, volunteers etc to arrange a programme (in the better weather of
spring , summer & autumn) and physically /proactively bring those
individuals committed to their communities it can happen and achieve
A "FACE to FACE" with those
in our society .
A "FACE to FACE" on their ground, in their
"patch", at a time, which provides access with little or no inconvenience
to the communities and the resident with little disruption to their normal routines
All it needs is the desire, a little initiative
and the involvemen/ "coming together" of those ORGANISATIONS with a vested interest in seeking
to develop a better society in which we all live and enjoy
MEET! GREET! INVITE!
UNITE!
"Its worth a try surely ?"
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