Our Neighbourhood Wardens – the eyes and ears for our communities

Edition: March 2023

We are fortunate to have seven Neighbourhood Warden teams based across 11 villages and towns throughout the District.

Steyning Bramber and Upper Beeding wardens Mike and Paul

Our Wardens work alongside partner agencies as a reassuring, uniformed patrolling presence reducing the fear of crime, improving quality of life and promoting a stronger community. Their focus centres around engaging and educating their local community and using their enforcement powers when needed, to prevent issues at source. Wardens are CSAS (Community Safety Accreditation Scheme) accredited from Sussex Police to enable them to use some enforcement powers.

We hit the streets recently with Mike and Paul, our Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding duo. Both have been patrolling that patch for over 10 years and have a fantastic bond with each other and the community.

We met at The Hub (pictured top), an inclusive warm space café with a food bank based in a Baptist Church in Upper Beeding. Mike and Paul can often be found here offering drop-in sessions.

What they do and why

Day to day our Wardens offer a reactive service responding to calls about things like environmental crime issues such as dog fouling and littering, anti-social behaviour, neighbourhood and domestic issues, as well as concerns about vulnerable people.

Mike commented:

When we receive these calls we can adjust our patrols, go and make visits, disperse groups, and generally increase our visibility to discourage antisocial behaviour, working with a network of other services to solve problems.

Mike, Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding Neighbourhood warden

Farmers markets - not just gin and jam!

Alongside reactive work they also have a busy proactive programme, regularly holding community drop-ins at local events such as their stand at the Steyning Farmers Market. They also support other regular events like the Steyning Festival, the summer Skate Jam, and late-night shopping.

They pay regular visits to vulnerable people, work with groups such as Age UK, host events like race nights and hold education sessions within community groups, youth clubs, and schools.

An integrated safety net of services

Operating in one of our more rural patches, Mike and Paul really know their residents well and therefore have a wealth of stories to tell.

Working with the Council’s Environmental Health team, they helped one vulnerable resident struggling with health issues and financial difficulties to access a local food bank and get financial support that helped them get essential home improvements. They commented:

We connected them with The Hub befriending service, and ongoing foodbank access. All of this strengthens their support network, improves their social confidence and their ability to independently access help going forward.

Mike and Paul

Help with rogue traders, advice on personal safety and use of personal alarms via our Community Link service also feature heavily on the list of support they can offer. Even herding escaped horses back into a field at night features on their impressive list. Paul said:

We can provide authoritative advice sensitively, exactly when it is needed. Working to reassure individuals, reduce isolation and initiate that community support safety net.

Paul

The team can also assist if there is a major incident to manage those essential services for displaced residents while emergency services can complete their work. We think our Wardens are really special teams with incredible skills in understanding the needs of local communities.

Further information

The Warden schemes are funded by Neighbourhood and Parish Councils and managed by Horsham District Council. Find out more information about our Wardens including all their contact details by clicking on the link below.

You can also keep up to date with the activity of all warden schemes via Twitter @HorshamWardens and on Facebook at Horsham District Neighbourhood Wardens.

Crime and anti-social behaviour should be reported to the police on 101. In an emergency, always call 999.

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