Street Groups Limited, Mission Statement

1. To create a community where friendship and useful discussion is encouraged.

Be realistic, we don't know each other very well, and we can't tell at this stage what future issues may arise for us, where knowing the street will be a real advantage. Modern society has created neighbourhoods were we have no need to "know the neighbours". Perhaps no strong desire to know them either. Not a good starting point, but that's who we are.

"Everyone," well almost everyone, says that a stronger neighbourhood is what they want. We all know that group strength is the moral choice we should make, but there is also a posible "cost" in that, and people don't want to rush to volunteer. Faced with an invitation to join a Street Group, most people do nothing. That's not a neutral stance, it's an direct act against the success of the initiative.

Where a small number if individuals quickly join and become visible, others follow. Those who give, inevitably also get. Where pro-social behaviour exists, it feeds itself, and the whole group grows in membership, in confidence and in value to members.

2. To empower the members with knowledge, contacts and improved online skills.

We have enormous ability to learn from each other. Sadly 60% of people still don't know the importance of joining online groups. These ten short essays give you the basic rules for success online.

We all learn by doing. Online social forums encourage you to do more things, and increase your learning rate. Joining a Street Group should be the easiest and most basic action, but for social reasons, it can also be hard for some people to do.

3. To promote and develop active participation in the life of the street.

We all have to learn how to use a forum like this. That's a skill you learn by trying to do it. You also learn by copying other people.

There are many activities the street could choose to pursue, if there is good leadership and sufficient interest. We haven't begun to explore those possibilities yet.

We can begin with simple things like a street BBQ, and sharing tools and garden produce. Much more could be done.

4. To protect the street from harm and to improve the services and quality of life here.

Not everyone is online. There may be a need to create telephone trees or a Neighbourhood Support Group

There may be a need for a street clean up. For instance what about hiring a skip for the street?

Perhaps someone elderly has a section that needs a tidy up. Could there be people in the street who would like to do that?

5. To train people as future leaders of the street and other community groups.

The world needs competent leaders. Each of us has those skills but we need to opportunity to practice and to develop confidence. A Street Group is one more place to learn those skills.

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