Community Engagement Hub opens in Swansgate Centre
Community safety05 December 2023
Helping people feel safe on the streets and listening to their concerns will be the focus of a drop-in hub at the heart of Wellingborough town centre.
North Northamptonshire Council have teamed up with partners to run a unit in the Swansgate Centre, aimed at engaging with residents on a variety of community safety issues.
The shop is currently vacant, and the council will use the space at no cost until Sunday 7 January meaning residents can pop in whilst doing their Christmas shopping to discuss community safety issues that are important to them with representatives from a variety of organisations.
Representatives including NNC’s Safer Communities team, Northamptonshire Police and Fire, Trading Standards, Wellingborough Town Council, Greatwell Homes and NGage Addiction support services are all using the space on a rota basis.
There is also information from other agencies, including support groups, on display and staff will be on hand to point anyone with questions in the right direction.
We recognise that feeling safe in your community and whilst you are out and about is something that is so important to all residents.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council
This is especially prominent over the winter months, when the nights are longer, and you might be travelling to and from work in the dark or heading out to meet with friends to catch up over the festive season.
With this in mind, I am pleased that we have been able to utilise this shop unit over the next few weeks to be on hand to offer advice and listen to the issues of residents.
This is a great example of partners coming together to provide advice and support to residents in an easy and accessible way.
Community safety covers a wide area from anti-social behaviour and public space protection orders through to domestic abuse, so if you have any concerns - I would encourage anyone with questions to come down to the unit and speak to the team.Cllr Mark Rowley, the council’s Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up
There will be a variety of partner organisations working on a rota basis, including the weekends, which I know will be especially beneficial to those who might not be able to access our council services in normal working hours.
The Community Engagement hub can be found opposite Roman clothing store, next to F Hinds Jewellers, and a timetable will be displayed weekly with who will be available on which days.