Residents' Survey results and representations
Forum Membership
You choose how you get involved -
Being a Member does NOT mean attending Committee meetings!
What am I committing myself to?
We’re all living such busy lives that an understandable first reaction can be to avoid taking on another commitment. If so, we’ve got good news for you….
There are no formal obligations to membership. At it’s simplest, being a Member can mean just signing up so as to be kept abreast of what’s going on through updates and periodic newsletters (including dates of various events we will be running as we develop our Neighbourhood Plan).
Of course, if you do want to get more involved, then you’ll be welcomed with open arms. We’re a friendly and enthusiastic group, with none of us overly keen on bureaucracy for the sake of it. A core team keeps us on track, with other members attending meetings and/or getting involved in supporting activities as and when they are able (more of which below…).
Who can be a Member of the KDBH Neighbourhood Forum?
Anyone who lives, works or runs a business within the Forum area (see map here) is most welcome to join as a Member. Elected members (Councillors) with an interest in the area are also eligible - three have already joined.
We are particularly keen to encourage participation from student or youth membership - after all, the plan is very much about protecting and improving our area for the benefit of generations to come. Even though, by law, younger members will not be able to vote until the age of 18, we want to make sure that their voice is heard and reflected in the Plan.
Our top priority is to make sure that membership is inclusive and truly representative of the diverse communities and groups within our neighbourhood - we need your help to achieve this.
What if I don’t meet the criteria for membership, but have a real interest in what’s going on?
We welcome anyone with a particular interest in the area and a genuine desire to input constructively to the running of the Forum and/or to development of the Neighbourhood Plan. For example, you may have moved away from the area, but maintain strong links through friends or family. Or you may be a developer with an interest in the implications of the Plan for future land use.
In this case, we encourage you to sign up as a ‘Subscriber’ and let us know the nature of your interest. The only thing you won’t be able to do is to attend AGM’s and vote on resolutions.
What does it mean to be a Member?
The most important benefit of being a Member is that you get to vote on the overall shape (vision, key topics, priorities) and contents (proposals) of what goes into the Neighbourhood Plan.
For many, though, Forum membership provides other, wider benefits that are also valued. It’s a good way to get to know more about our community and to meet local people who share an interest in making a difference to a neighbourhood we are all proud to be part of. Along the way, it’s surprising how much interesting stuff you learn just by sharing the huge pool of knowledge within the group and from speakers invited to meetings.
How can I get involved?
The Forum is run by volunteers. No offer of help refused!
There are many different ways you can choose to get involved, mixing and matching from the list below depending on where your interest lies and the time you have available:
-
receive updates, periodic newsletters and access the Forum’s website, ensuring you are kept up to date with what’s happening;
-
attend Forum meetings. These sessions bring together the wide range of activities involved in creating the Plan - from community events to writing the Plan - so are good to get an overall view of what’s happening;
-
contribute to one (or more) topics of particular interest to you. Currently, there are three, reflecting what community feedback to date suggests are the topics of highest priority - Housing; Learning and Community Facilities; and Transport and Infrastructure;
-
participate in community events to learn more about Plan development and have your say;
-
support the running of the Forum. This requires a whole range of skills and you definitely don’t have to be an ‘expert’. Everyone has something to contribute….
Most of all, perhaps, if everyone spreads the word to neighbours and friends this will provide a much more effective and less costly way of achieving our aim to reach as many people in the community as possible
Are there any particular areas that you need help now?
In particular, we could really do with additional skills to support:
-
Facebook and social media
-
Events support
-
Press and PR
-
Graphics and publications design
What do you do with Member details?
As membership numbers grow, we are now holding the contact details you provide in a simple Membership database that is maintained by our Membership Secretary. We only hold information necessary to be able to contact you, using your preferred contact method, and to validate that you are entitled to be a Member (from the address you give us).
We are committed to protect your privacy and your information will only be used for membership administration and communication and will not be shared with, or communicated to, third party organisations.