The Hillfields Neighbourhood Warden Project was introduced into the area in June 2001 and was tasked with making Hillfields a cleaner and safer place.  Originally with just one warden, the scheme now boasts four and a team leader and is funded until 2006.  In the last eighteen months alone, the team has dealt with over 6000 requests for help from the community, ranging from fly tipping issues to abandoned cars to direction giving.  Each warden undergoes a thorough training programme, which is an on going process throughout his or her employment.

The training to date includes:

First Aid: This gives the Warden the ability to deal with many situations from minor cuts and grazes to dealing and assisting with potentially life threatening incidents.

Drugs Awareness and Young People and Drugs: These two courses are designed to offer the Warden a knowledge and awareness of drugs and in particular with the second course, an understanding of how drugs can impact on the younger generation.

Domestic Violence Awareness and Domestic Violence – Links with Drugs and Alcohol: As with the drugs courses,

this training enables the Warden to have knowledge of the subject and offer options to people who are affected by it. 

Working with Drinkers: This two-part course gives Wardens an understanding of the difficulties of alcohol misuse and also enables them to signpost people to agencies that can help combat their problems.

Other courses the Wardens have attended are HIV and AIDS Awareness, Personal Safety Training, Blindness and Disabled Awareness, An Introduction to Safeguarding Children Involved in Child Prostitution, Dealing with Violence and Aggression, Data Protection and Basic Foreign Language training. 

In addition to this, a new employee will spend time with partner organisations such as Registered Social Landlords (Touchstone, Whitefriars etc) and the Police, in order to understand problems from a different perspective from the one they will have in their role as a Neighbourhood Warden. 

The Warden Team is at present working with the local primary schools on Kerbcraft training for years 1 and 2.  This involves basic road safety and road crossing.  They are also undertaking a post-coding project which will see every household in the Hillfields area receiving a post-coding pack enabling residents to mark their valuables with ultra violet pens.  This will make any assets identifiable should they be lost or stolen.

The Hillfields Neighbourhood Warden Team can be contacted at: 

Area Co-ordination building

31 Primrose Hill Street. 

Hillfields

Coventry

CV1 5LY

Tel. 02476294422       07958335588     07970465027

 Working hours are Monday – Friday 08:00 – 20:00