kind neighbours

In response to Covid-19, the 5049 Coastal Community set up the Kind Neighbours program.

We have had a good response to the call for volunteers and have approx 35 street coordinators who have dropped our Kind Neighbour cards into letterboxes in our community. We have managed to cover a good deal of our area. See maps here. Our aim is to propagate the good neighbour trait we already experience. So we are really happy with the response so far.

Many of the volunteers have received thank you messages; as yet no one has called out for assistance, but they know they can. It is good to know that our community is resilient so far.

These are still extremely difficult times for our community and more than ever we need to remember our neighbours, as well as our family and friends. So let’s all continue reach out when we can to help each other, safely. This initiative was in recognition that although we need to observe the strict protocols on social distancing to keep yourself and others safe, we also need each other. 

​As move into the recovery phase, although very cautiously as it is not over yet!! Several of the volunteers were keen to continue with the initiative and consider how we might develop a more structured program  to facilitate better neighbourly connections.

Two meetings were held, one on Zoom ( see minutes) and another in person at Marino Community Hall  9  July, where 15 of the volunteers got together to discuss how we can build on the one off initiative. 

Some of the group agreed to join a small task group to look at how we can develop the next phase of the initiative:

• Research similar programs to ensure there is no duplication of effort and collaborate with and or promote  those initiatives 
  
• Facilitate a number of Kind Neighbour activities and initiatives in our area in collaboration with existing communities 
  
• Develop a shortlist of Kind Neighbour activities and initiatives for implementation
  
• Seek external funding to establish a set of digital and practical resources to support a long term Kind Neighbour Program
  

Possible ideas for development 

• Welcome packs for new neighbours
• Beautification and cleanup of the local neighbourhood
• Annual street parties and other relationship-building events 
• Practical support for elderly and other residents needing support (eg working bees)
• Oral history interviews to support building community knowledge
• Facebook or similar collaboration tools to facilitate local communication​​