How does Neighbourhood Support work? The basis of Neighbourhood Support is the Neighbourhood Support Group. This can be a group of neighbours in part of a large street or all the neighbours in a smaller street and can also be neighbours covering a small area of a few streets. Each group appoints a volunteer street/ group contact person who is the connection for the group with the Neighbourhood Support office. The contact person forwards on information from the group to the office and distribute information from the office to the group. Groups are easy to establish. When a number of neighbours are interested in establishing a group they contact the office on (07) 349 9470, and arrange for a representative to speak to a meeting of the neighbours to outline how Neighbourhood Support works and to gather contact details of those who wish to join the group. The contact information is collated by the office and telephone contact lists are sent to the contact person for distribution to all registered members. Road signs are left with the contact person to be mounted on power poles at the
extremities of the group notifying all who pass through that there is an active group there. If you move to an area and are unsure whether there is an existing group, please contact the office and they can advise you if a group exists and the contact person details. If there isn’t a group already established, one can be easily established using the above process. Neighbourhood Support also works in rural areas. Often due to the size of farms, neighbours are distant, but communication between them is encouraged so that if anything suspicious is noticed, it can be reported and followed up. In rural areas, neighbours tend to get to know those close by and with Neighbourhood Support information is passed on to the group contact, the same way as to urban groups, and then distributed to the members of the group by email or telephone call.
What do groups do? It is up to each group to decide what they would like to do in addition to keeping an eye on suspicious activity in the area and contacting the police. Some groups like to get together for a Page 23
