Neighbourhood Wardens
Neighbourhood Warden Schemes
The Department for Transport, Local Government & the Regions has announced a further 120 schemes to be funded in addition to the 36 announced in February 2001 . The money will cover the cost of employing the wardens, scheme managers, administration and project costs. The £50 million Street Wardens programme is designed to provide a friendly face on local streets to stamp out the neighbourhood nuisances - grafitti, abandoned cars, litter - that seriously reduce people's quality of life.
The development of Neighbourhood Warden schemes was first suggested by the social Exclusion Unit’s Policy Action Team 6, who advise on neighbourhood renewal. It defines a Neighbourhood Warden as “a person who provides an official or semi-official presence in a residential area, whose primary aim is to improve the quality of life and who is appointed and managed by a properly established scheme.”
Wardens, recruited from the local community, assume a community support role and perform regular visits to vulnerable residents and build a bond of trust between themselves and the local community. Some schemes organise community foot patrols to provide a visible deterrent to crime and to help reduce the fear of crime.
Last update: 27/08/03