More Junior Wardens ...

See more of what the Junior Wardens have been up to lately at the link below ...

http://greenheartden.blogspot.com/2009/11/junior-wardens-wldlife-workshop.html

The John Muir Award encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, and is open to all. It is the main educational initiative of John Muir Trust. http://www.jmt.org/jmaward-home.asp

More Junior Warden activity

To see more of what the Junior Wardens have been up to visit the link below ...

http://greenheartden.blogspot.com/2009/11/junior-warden-bird-feeders.html

Cumbria police launch Xmas drink and drugs driving campaign

Cumbria police will be targeting motorists who drive under the influence of drink and drugs this Christmas.

Road safety has been identified as one of their top policing priorities by the communities of Cumbria, and the county’s roads policing unit will be out in force to target offenders.

The annual crackdown begins on Tuesday 1 December and will run throughout the festive period, when the number of people arrested for drink driving tends to rise.

Road conditions are already treacherous across the county after severe flooding damaged road surfaces and driving while over the limit increases the risks even further.

Last year, 90 people were arrested for drink driving offences over the festive period and police will once again set up targeted road side checks at key locations around busy town centre night spots in order to catch offenders and act as a deterrent to try and prevent people from getting behind the wheel in the first place.

Sergeant Paul Brown has coordinated this year’s campaign. He said: “It is vitally important that we get the message across that driving under the influence of drink and drugs will not be tolerated in Cumbria.

“We will be setting up roadside checks at key locations into and out of busy town-centre night spots and will be taking an intelligence-led approach by responding to information from the public.

“It is up to all of us to send the message that drink and drug driving is socially unacceptable in Cumbria. If you suspect someone is drink driving, or is planning to, then call police on 0845 33 00 247. Together we may be able to stop a family having a devastating Christmas this year by preventing a serious collision.”

As well as increasing police patrols and the number of breath tests taken by Cumbrian drivers, police will be raising awareness of the potential consequences associated with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

This year’s campaign will be primarily targeted at educating young drivers aged 17-25, who are statistically more likely to get involved in road traffic collisions in Cumbria.

Anyone caught drink or drug driving can expect a 12 month driving ban, criminal record, substantial fine, higher insurance premiums and potential loss of job.

To help get their message across, officers will also be making use of a bluetooth device that sends an anti-drink driving message to a large number of mobile phones simultaneously, near to busy town centre nightspots and restaurants across the county. It is hoped that this will remind revellers to take a taxi or catch a lift with a friend after enjoying a night out.

Pledging her support to the campaign, Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Skeer, said: “We are committed to making the roads of Cumbria as safe as possible and we will not tolerate anyone who endangers the life of others by choosing to drive when under the influence of drink or drugs.

“Many people use the excuse that they’ve ‘only had a couple of pints’, but this is unacceptable, and we would urge people to take a zero tolerance approach – if you’re drinking any alcohol at all, don’t drive.

“The simple message is that if you choose to drink drive in Cumbria, you will be caught, prosecuted and face the inevitable consequences that accompany a drink driving conviction.”

Police and partners join forces to encourage a safe and healthy Xmas in Barrow

The next Streetsafe Operation will take place on Thursday 3rd December when police officers and partner agencies will be going to The Railway Public House, Wetherspoons in Barrow to engage with customers and staff.

The Streetsafe team which includes Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria Fire & Rescue, NHS Cumbria, Trading Standards, Barrow Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and volunteers, will be visiting the venue to hand out crime prevention and health and safety advice ahead of the Festive season.

For the first time, the Streetsafe team will also be offering free blood pressure checks to customers and staff who want them. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s Occupational Health Nurse will be on hand between 6.30 pm and 8.00 pm.

NHS Cumbria is supporting the initiative as forty per cent of adults in England suffer from high blood pressure which can cause serious medical conditions. High blood pressure (hypertension) can put people at risk of serious medical conditions such many different types of cardiovascular disease, a stroke, heart attack, blood clot or aneurysm (a swollen, or burst, blood vessel).

In 95 per cent of cases, there is no single reason for a raise in blood pressure. However an unhealthy diet, excess alcohol and lack of exercise can play a part.

High blood pressure can be treated or prevented by making changes lifestyle, such as exercising more regularly, eating a healthier diet and cutting back on your consumption of alcohol. Medicines are also available that can help lower blood pressure. Anyone who's concerned about their blood pressure should contact their GP.

PC John Irving who coordinates Streetsafe said: “It is fantastic that Streetsafe has been joined by another partner agency offering an additional service to residents within the Borough.

“During the evening, we will be consulting with staff and customers about issues that concern them and we will be reassuring them that we are doing all we can to make the area safer, cleaner and stronger.

“Working with our partner agencies, we want to make sure everyone has a safe and crime free Christmas. We will be giving a wide range of advice including how to keep your valuables safe, sensible drinking, cold callers, active citizens and fire safety.

“I would like to thank the management and staff at The Railway for their on going support with the Streetsafe project.”

Follow us on Facebook

We now have a Facebook account join us at www.facebook.com/chnmt.barrow

We look foward to hearing from you.

Problems with our Twitter account

Weve just had to delete our CHNMT Twitter account as we had some kind of virus sending out relentless rubbish about taking IQ tests.

Apologies to all who were following us on Twitter. We'll be back with a new/clean/virus free Twitter account next week.

Once again apologies and we strongly suggest if you get anything from people about taking IQ tests that you delete it - even if it's from someone you know. It seems to be happening across various platforms such as Twitter, Facebook etc.

Visit Santa's Grotto and Xmas Fair

Visit Santa’s Grotto

There will be a Santa’s Grotto at Barrow and District Disability Association at The Willow Tree Café, 71-77 School Street, Barrow-in-Furness (Oldham Street car park, behind Home Bargains).

The Grotto will be open on Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December between 10am and 3pm. The Grotto is pushchair and wheelchair accessible and all children are welcome. It costs £2.50 per child including present and there will be a colouring competition.

Barrow Jackals dancing troupe will be hosting a Christmas Fair on Sunday 13th December between 2pm and 4pm at the Hindpool Community Centre, Nelson Street. There will be dancing demos, singing, a raffle, tombola, refreshments, a Santa’s Grotto and more.

Table Top Sale anyone?

Devonshire Buildings Tenants’ Association

Are holding a TABLE TOP SALE on 5th DECEMBER 2009 at THE CANTEEN MEDIA & ARTS CENTRE, Michaelson Road, Barrow Island.

Doors open from 1:00pm till 4:00pm.

Entrance fee on the door only 20 pence.

Further details and table booking from ALLAN SMITH on 01229 812426.

Thought for the week ...

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

A quote generally attributed to Einstein but which some sources suggest was a sign hanging in his office at Princeton University.

What does the Policing Pledge mean for you?

The new phase of policing pledge campaign makes clear what the public can expect from the police. New television, radio, press and online adverts which tell the public what rights they have under the national Policing Pledge were launched today by Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The policing pledge is just one part of the Policing Green Paper, published last summer, which signalled a fundamental shift in police accountability and reporting. All 43 police forces have signed up to the pledge which sets out a range of promises about what the public can expect from the police.

The adverts focus on two of the promises within the pledge - that your neighbourhood policing team spend 80 per cent of their time visibly working in your neighbourhood and that you can make an appointment to see your local police at a time that suits you within 48 hours about non-emergency problems.

The adverts were launched as new polling published today shows that:
- over half of the public think they would have to wait more than 48 hours for an appointment with a police officer to discuss a non-emergency matter
- only three per cent of people think that their local police spend more than 75 per cent of their time on the beat in their area
- 81 per cent of people said they would find it useful to receive information which provided the contact details for the local police and other crime and anti-social behaviour services in their area
- 77 per cent of those interested said that the most useful way to receive such information would be as a leaflet through the door.

Alan Johnson said, 'The policing pledge sets out the standards the public can expect from their local force. We need to tell the public about these commitments – that neighbourhood police are pledging to spend 80 per cent of their time on the beat, that people can make an appointment to meet their local police team at a time that’s convenient to the citizen. By letting people know about these standards of service that all police forces have signed up to, we hope that people will have greater confidence to come forward to report crime and give evidence against criminals in court; because they’ll know that the police are a visible presence locally, available to be on their side.

'Part of this campaign is also about making it easier for the public to know what their rights are if they are suffering from anti-social behaviour so they don’t end up being passed from pillar to post. It also tells them about what service they should receive if they are a victim and who to contact to ensure their voice is heard.'

The policing pledge (new window) is a set of promises to local residents that not only gives more information about local policing, but also ensures that communities across the country have a stronger voice in telling the police what they think is most important and what they are most worried about.
Policing pledge.

The police service in England and Wales will support law abiding citizens and pursue criminals relentlessly to keep you and your neighbourhoods safe from harm. We will:
Always treat you fairly, with dignity and respect, ensuring that you have fair access to our services at a time that is reasonable and suitable for you.

Provide you with information so you know who your dedicated neighbourhood policing team is, where they are based, how to contact them and how to work with them.

Ensure your neighbourhood police team and other police patrols are visible and on your patch at times when they will be most effective and when you tell us you most need them. We will ensure your team are not taken away from neighbourhood business more than is absolutely necessary. They will spend at least 80 per cent of their time visibly working in your neighbourhood, tackling your priorities. Staff turnover will be minimised.

Respond to every message directed to your neighbourhood policing team within 24 hours and, where necessary, provide a detailed response as soon as we can.

Aim to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds, deploying to emergencies immediately giving an estimated time of arrival, getting to you safely, and as quickly as possible. In urban areas, we will aim to get to you within 15 minutes and in rural areas within 20 minutes.

Answer all non-emergency calls promptly. If attendance is needed, send a patrol giving you an estimated time of arrival, and:
- if you are vulnerable or upset aim to be with you within 60 minutes
- if you are calling about an issue we have agreed with your community will be a neighbourhood priority and attendance is required, we will aim to be with you within 60 minutes
- alternatively, if appropriate, we will make an appointment to see you at a time that fits in with your life and within 48 hours
- if agreed that attendance is not necessary we will give you advice, answer your questions and/or put you in touch with someone who can help.

Arrange regular public meetings to agree your priorities, at least once a month, giving you a chance to meet your local team with other members of your community. These will include opportunities such as surgeries, street briefings and mobile police station visits which will be arranged to meet local needs and requirements.

Provide monthly updates on progress, and on local crime and policing issues. This will include the provision of crime maps, information on specific crimes and what happened to those brought to justice, details of what action we and our partners are taking to make your neighbourhood safer and information on how your force is performing.

If you have been a victim of crime agree with you how often you would like to be kept informed of progress on your case for how long. You have the right to be kept informed at least every month if you wish and for as long as is reasonable.

Acknowledge any dissatisfaction about the service you have received within 24 hours of reporting it to us. To help us fully resolve the matter, discuss with you how it will be handled, give you an opportunity to talk in person to someone about your concerns and agree with you what will be done about them and how quickly.

We want to do our best for you but if we fail to meet our pledge we will always explain why it has not been possible on that occasion to deliver the high standards to which we aspire and you deserve.

You are entitled to:
- a clear set of commitments from the police about their service
- a local pledge about how your neighbourhood will be policed
- contact details for your neighbourhood policing team
- monthly public meetings with your local police team to agree what matters most
- access to information on local crimes including crime maps and feedback on what action has been taken in your area by or searching for policing pledge online.

Policing Pledge

This video shows how the Home Office made one of their TV adverts to raise awareness of the new national policing pledge. To find out more about the policing pledge in Central and Hindpool contact us at Neighbourhood Management.

Rights of the Child

Today is the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

To find out more visit here and http://www.unicef.org/crc/

Thought for the week ...

"... indifference is a powerful force in history it operates passively but effectively."

Fiori G (1978)

Xmas in Barrow Town Centre

Tap It and Unwrap It
Sunday 29th November Tap it and Unwrap it Show and A590 Theatre Company.
Christmas themed Street Entertainment, Traditional Carols & Christmas Songs with A590 Theatre Group.

Sunday shopping and free car parking. For further information contact Anne Taylforth on 01229 876389

Join the learning path!

Cumbria CVS Learning Champions encourage and support adults to join the learning path!

We provide information on courses for adults which are running in your community and around the Furness area. If you want to talk about adult learning, we are here to offer support to get you started! – there’s no pressure just information for you to think over your options.

Free Supportive impartial well informed and friendly.

Start your journey on the learning path today.

For more information contact The Learning Co-ordinator, Cumbria CVS Barrow, 72-74 Scott Street, Barrow-in- Furness,
Phone: 01229 823144

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Santa's Grotto at BDDA

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Police and partners join forces to tackle burglaries in Barrow

Barrow police and partner agencies from the Barrow Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership have joined forces to launch a large operation this December to tackle burglary in the town.

A new Burglary Action Group comprising of representatives from Cumbria police, NHS Cumbria, Fire and Rescue, Age Concern, Trading Standards, Neighbourhood Watch and Barrow Housing Association, has been formed to drive down the numbers of burglaries in the town. By pooling resources and having a joined up approach to the issue, the Group hopes to tackle the problem by raising awareness amongst the local community and delivering vital crime prevention advice to local residents on their doorsteps.

The newly formed group has planned a month long multi-agency campaign throughout December which centres around a three day ‘mega’ Streetsafe operation which will see over fifty police officers and many other group representatives visit over 1500 homes in Barrow to discuss crime prevention and offer free assessments on existing home security.

The operation will specifically target an area of Barrow that suffers from the highest number of burglaries according to police data. Over a three year period from January 2006 - October 2009, figures show that police received reports of 75 burglaries in the Salthouse area - which is markedly higher than the other neighbourhoods. Of the 75 burglaries reported to police, approximately 50 per cent occurred at insecure premises.

In the lead up to the campaign, officers have turned to local youngsters for help and have launched a poster competition within three local schools in Barrow. Pupils in year five and six at Sacred Heart, Greengate Juniors and St George's schools are submitting their final designs for a crime prevention poster which will be used to raise awareness of burglary in the local community.

Detective Inspector Dave Banks who is coordinating the operation said: “Communities in Barrow tell us that burglary is a top priority and this is a problem we are committed to tackling.

“When comparing other areas across the country, the numbers of burglaries in Barrow are very low and teams of officers work incredibly hard to ensure this continues. However, one burglary is one too many and we have identified a particular neighbourhood that has the highest numbers of burglaries in the town and we want the local community to be confident that we are doing all we can to ensure criminals no longer think of the area as an easy target.

“In the lead up to Christmas, teams of officers will be out and about in over 45 streets in Salthouse to hand out leaflets to local residents and experts will be on hand to provide advice on how to make homes more secure. Over half of the burglaries reported to us happen at insecure premises so we want to proactively provide residents with all the tools they need to help keep their homes - and Christmas presents – safe from burglars this year.

“Thankfully, like other areas across our county, Barrow is one of the safest places to live in the UK however between April 2008 – October 2009, we have seen a 39 per cent increase in burglaries in South Cumbria. As we raise awareness of the problem within the neighbourhood and gather the support of the public, we hope to significantly reduce this and give burglars a miserable Christmas this year.”

Get Safe Online

The Get Safe Online initiative (http://www.getsafeonline.org/), which is now in its fifth year, is the UK’s national internet security awareness campaign.

A joint partnership between the Cabinet Office, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and private sector sponsors from the worlds of technology, retail and finance, the campaign aims to educate, inform and raise awareness of internet security issues to encourage safe, confident use of the internet.

Police launch campaign to highlight Constabulary's good performance

Cumbria police have launched a poster campaign on public buses to keep
local communities informed of the Constabulary’s shining performance.

Buses across Barrow and Carlisle over the next month will be sporting the new posters which are designed to inform the public about the reduction in the top community priority across Cumbria – anti-social behaviour.

This follows the release of figures that reveal that there have been 1856 less victims of crime in Cumbria between October 2008–September 2009 compared to October 2007 – September 2008, and an incredible 4984 less incidents of anti-social behaviour reported to police in the county during the same period.

Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: “This reduction is fantastic news for the Constabulary and people of Cumbria, and as part of our policing pledge we want to keep our communities informed of the hard work that officers put into driving down crime across the county.

“This significant reduction in the volume of crime and anti-social behaviour we deal with would not be possible without the support of our communities and partners who work with us to identify and tackle local issues so effectively in Cumbria.

“By taking our message out onto the county’s roads and into the heart of communities, we hope that more and more people will be confident in the service we provide and will choose to get involved with tackling local priorities in the future.”

Thought for the week ...

"Thinking is the ultimate human resource. The quality of our future depends entirely on the quality of our thinking."

De Bono E (1982, De Bono's Thinking Course, BBC Books)

Community Philosophy - what do you think?

A new report, 'Community Philosophy', has been published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation today. The report looks at a recent three year experiment which used an approach called communtiy philosophy to promote conversations and develop positive relationships between different groups of people within a community.

If you're interested in the possibility of esatablishing a local community philosophy project post a comment below and let us know what you think.

Barracudas Carnival Centre

Volunteers Required

We need two stewards for Saturdays and Wednesdays 1pm-7.30pm, starting 14th November. Must be physically strong as it involves helping with van loading/equipment moving.

If you can help with this request please contact the Barracudas Carnival Centre on 01229 812036. Barracudas Carnival Centre, The Nan Tait, Bath Street, Barrow in Furness LA14 5TY

www.barracudas.org.ukcarnival@barracudas.org.ukhttp://thebarracudas.wordpress.com

Multi-cultural Winter Festival

Saturday 21 November 10am - 4pm
Tickets: Forum 28 Main Hall activities £2 per person or £6 for family of 4

Furness Multicultural Community Forum, in partnership with Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council, is holding their Winter Festival; a celebration of different festivals taking place around November:- El Eid, Bodhi day, Divali, Christmas, Chinese and Persian New Year.

Artwork will be on display, prepared by local school children the week prior to the festival, as well as performances by a local choir on both days.

During the day;
On Saturday the 21st, in forum twenty eight, there will be performances and workshops from Bollywood Brass Band, Polish dancers, Tango, Salsa & Latin dance and Makendo (mask making).

There will also be henna tattooing, story telling, film shows, A590, local performers and lots more entertainment. Some of the workshops will be pre-bookable - ask forum twenty eight box office for more details (tel: 01229 82 00 00).

An artificial Ice Rink will also open on lower Dalton Road free admission 10.30 am – 6.30 pm .

Christmas Lights Switch On
The switch on of Barrow's Christmas lights will be by Dave Myers of Hairy Bikers , there 's also a childrens’ lantern parade, Bollywood Brass Band, Christmas hits and carols from Denis Horan and street antics from Jukalo & Joel Dickinson starts 4.00 pm Town Square lights switch on approx 5.05 pm

Evening Concert 7.30pm
The evening concert will star Bollywood Brass Band, as well as local young people performing music relating to the festivals, and dance from the workshops. A great day out for the family - come along.
Evening concert Adults £6/ £3 concessions and family of 4, £15

CVS Volunteer Workshop

Are you wanting to improve your skills and get a job in administration, youth work, health & social care, retail, driving, teaching, nursing, environmental work? Whatever job you are looking for why not gain some experience first by volunteering? Try volunteering to expand and enhance your CV and improve your job prospects. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, improve your skills, try a new challenge and it also helps to improve your confidence.

Locally in Barrow our volunteer centre at 72-74 Scott Street is now holding monthly 'Introduction to Volunteers'. The sessions cover the wide range of volunteering opportunities, organisations that are needing volunteers, the benefits of volunteering and state benefits, training opportunities, courses and NVQ's available to volunteers. This is a fantastic opportunity to find out what is available to you. No skills or qualifications are necessary.

Next Session 18th November 2009 at 12.30pm-2.30pm Tel: 01229 823144 to book your place or e-mail: lisam@cumbriacvs.org.uk

CVS Community Learning Champions

Community Learning Champions encourage and support adults to join the learning path!

We provide information on courses for adults which are running in your community and around the Furness area. If you want to talk about adult learning, we are here to offer support to get you started! – there’s no pressure just information for you to think over your options.

Free Supportive impartial well informed & Friendly

Start your journey on the learning path today

For more information contact The Learning Co-ordinator, Cumbria CVS Barrow, 72-74 Scott Street, Barrow-in- Furness, Phone: 01229 823144

National Metal Theft Action Day

Cumbria Constabulary is taking part in a national ‘day of action’ against metal theft on Wednesday 11 November along with other forces across the UK.

As one of the top performing police forces in the country, Cumbria aims to dedicate the day to visiting scrap metal dealers and conducting increasing numbers of stop checks on vehicles across the county to raise awareness and identify and deter offenders.

Throughout the day, officers will be working with partner agencies to tackle the issue and will engage with scrap metal dealers so that they can play their part in driving the numbers of metal thefts down across Cumbria. Officers will also be out and about to test scrap metal for the presence of Smartwater – an invisible marker that ‘tags’ property with details of it’s rightful owner.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Forrester said: “We are pleased to support this national day of action and hope that members of the public will support us in coming forward to report suspicious vehicles or individuals.

“Metal theft can be a profitable business and we want communities to be confident that we are doing all we can to target these criminals. Theft of common metals such as piping can cause a real disruption for vital everyday services such as water, gas and electricity and can have a negative impact on our communities.

“The high visibility operation that is planned as part of our policing pledge will send offenders a strong message about the robust approach we adopt towards reports of this crime – it simply won’t be tolerated.”

Between January 2007 and November 2009 there have been 185 metal theft crimes across South Cumbria, 50 of those took place in 2009. Officers in the South of the county have been working on a successful multi-agency policing operation dubbed ‘Operation Statute’, which was launched last year to tackle a series of metal thefts in the area.

Over the last twelve months, officers involved in the operation have been working with partners such as the local Council and Environmental Health, to regulate scrap metal dealers and educate them on the legalities around carrying scrap metal. Since the operation began, there has been a surge in the number of applications for waste carrier licences – a legal requirement if you are carrying legitimate scrap metal.

Sergeant Paul Madden who has been leading the operation said: “We launched this operation in response to the number of reports we were receiving about the theft of metals including radiators and piping in South Cumbria.

“We’re pleased to see that there has been a massive uptake in the number of applications that the Environment Agency receive for waste carrier licences since Operation Statue began. This, along with the commitment of those involved and the amount of awareness we’ve generated amongst the local community, has significantly reduced the reports of metal theft we receive.”

Knowhow Nonprofit

www.knowhownonprofit.org is a new website to help with all aspects of managing a non-profit organisation. It is packed with practical information and resources covering topics as diverse as managing volunteers, commissioning and procurement and setting up a charity shop.
There’s a discussion forum to share experiences. The site is intended to be a friendly and useful space for a community of non-profit people and organisations sharing what they have learnt to help others.

Tenants with Disabilities Forum

The Tenants with Disabilities Forum meets on a regular basis to discuss issues affecting people with a wide range of disabilities and the elderly. We are very keen to extend membership of the group and welcome newcomers to the meetings. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 18th November at 10.15am at The Community Centre on Grange and Cartmel Crescent.

For further information contact Norman Hird on 01229 433192

Share a smile ...

More smiling faces collected today but still plenty more to go to reach the 1,000!

Don't be shy ... take part and give Barrow the gift of your smile.

Share a Smile

Your next chance to take part in the 1,000 Smiling Faces project is outside Barrow Town Hall, 12-2pm Friday 6th Nov.

All you need to bring is your smile and a spare minute of your time!

Cumbria Police Authority holds first full meeting in Barrow

People from across the Furness area will get a chance to share their views on their Policing service next week when Cumbria Police Authority hold their full public meeting in Barrow for the first time ever.

On Wednesday, 11 November, the county’s policing watchdog will be holding its full Authority meeting at Forum 28, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness. This is the first time the Police Authority has held a meeting away from its base at Carleton Hall in Penrith. The Authority’s role is to hold Cumbria’s police service to account on behalf of the public in the whole of Cumbria and it has decided to take its meetings out to areas around the county to get closer to the people it represents.

The meeting will start at 1pm in the Grasmere Suite. Anyone is welcome to come along and sit in and observe the meeting.

In the morning there will be an opportunity for anyone from the local area to tell Members of the Police Authority about the issues that matter most to them and what they they would like to see police focussing on in their area. Police Authority Members will also be available in the foyer of Forum 28 from 10am that morning for an informal chat. In particular, Members would like to hear what local people think should be the policing priorities in their area and receive feedback on their experience of the police service.

Chairman of the Police Authority Ray Cole, who comes from Millom, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for people from this area to get involved in policing in their area. I would encourage everyone to come along and give us their views on policing and tell us what they think the Police should be focusing on in the South Cumbria area.

“It is also a chance for them to see the Police Authority in action by popping along in the afternoon and sitting in on the Authority’s meeting. At the meeting we will be starting our consideration of the budget for 2010 -11 and what people tell us in the morning will help us in developing the budget over the coming months.”

Anyone wanting more information about the meeting can contact Joanne Head at Cumbria Police Authority by ‘phoning 01768 217226 or e-mailing joanne.head@cumbria.police.uk

Share a Smile tomorrow ....

11am to 2pm Wednesday 4th November at the 'Spirit of Barrow' statue at the corner of Portland Walk, Dalton Road.

All you have to do is give us the gift of your smile ...

... look forward to seeing you there!

Would your business like to sponsor a Neighbourhood Warden?

Read more from the recent Evening Mail article here.

What people say about the Warden team ...

“For years now people have had to address their problems to departments that, at times, have made them feel like they are just put on a list that will be dealt with sometime if they’re lucky. The Wardens have changed all that. You are able to talk to someone face to face and know that they can solve your problem, nothing is too much trouble. They are not only approachable, they are accessible.” Judith Cassells, Parade Street Area Residents Group

“The Neighbourhood Wardens are an asset to the community in Barrow. They offer an effective service to the public as advocates for the communities in which they work and operate as proactive agents for other public service providers. The Warden’s knowledge and understanding of fire related issues has assisted in driving down the instances of miscellaneous anti-social fires. There has been a reduction of around 50% in this type of incident over the last three years.” Dave Coverdale, Locality Manager, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

“They are visible on the streets, adding to public confidence and accessibility for the public to speak to someone who has an interest in the area. Members of the public feel sometimes more comfortable speaking to a Warden about their issues rather than police. Our own police and community support officers speak very highly of the role of the Wardens and the information shared and value they bring to our partnership. I think the idea of sponsorship is a good one and an opportunity for local businesses to develop and promote the town of Barrow." Inspector Dave Bosson, Neighbourhood Police Team, Cumbria Constabulary

“They have helped to generate trust and developed meaningful relationships in the neighbourhood by regularly attending meetings with residents, community groups and local businesses. Before the Wardens were introduced many problems, particularly smaller ones concerning local residents, were overlooked and left to continue. They are the friendly face of public service and have helped to improve the relationship between the local community, the local authority and statutory agencies. The quality of their work with the Junior Warden scheme has also helped to build a meaningful relationship with young people in the neighbourhood.” Graham Bromley, MAST Residents Group and Marsh Street Arches and Garden CIC

“On behalf of the pupils, staff and governors of St James’ CE Junior School I would like to express my absolute support for the role of the Neighbourhood Wardens. Not only have they enriched the community but they have given so much to our school. They fulfil a vital role within our community and much of our new found community cohesion would be lost without them.” Angela Rawlinson, Head Teacher St James’ CE Junior School

Streetsafe in Central Barrow

Photos courtesy of Steve Hillman.

To find out more about Streetsafe visit http://streetsafe.wordpress.com

Co-operative Community Fund

The Co-operative Community Fund is a grant scheme to help local communities throughout the UK. Community Fund grants range between £100 and £2,000 and are awarded to community, voluntary or self-help groups to run projects that meet the following criteria:
• Address a community issue
• Provide a good long-term benefit to the community
• Support co-operative value and principles
• Ideally be innovative in its approach

Full criteria in on the website. If you need any assistance call 0161 827 5879.

Applications need to be made online at: www.cooperative.coop/membership/Community-Fund/onlineapplicationprocess