University launches street support team and forum

Students are a welcome and important part of the community. However, complaints about student behaviour have been on the rise this year in Reading. We have been lobbying the University to spend more on community relations. It's great to see new initiatives (Street Support Team and forum) from the University to address people's concerns. Details below.

Also, right at the bottom of the Street Support Team section is the email address for Sarah Gardner, the University's Community Relations Manager. I know she has helped a number of people and I would encourage anyone with concerns to contact her.

Street Support Team

A pilot community support scheme

We’re pleased to announce the launch of the University’s new Street Support Team, from Monday 16 April. The trial scheme is part of the University’s plans to promote positive community relationships between students and non-student neighbours.

The Street Support Team will provide advice to students socialising late at night, encouraging them to be responsible, respectful and safe when travelling through residential areas. The team will also help students feel safe and supported late at night and clean up any bottles/glass left on the streets, as they go.

The highly trained and highly visible team will be working in residential streets around the campus between 10pm and 4am several nights a week. They’ll primarily be based between:

· Redlands Road and London Road, including St George’s Hall.

· Whiteknights Road and Wokingham Road, including Bridges/Wessex Halls and the number 17 bus stop.

· Northcourt Avenue and Christchurch Green, including St Patrick’s/Sherfield Halls and the number 21/21a bus stop.

The University has created this trial based on views from local residents, neighbourhood police teams, Reading Borough Council and other community partners in the town. We are grateful for all the input and support.

The scheme will run as a trial over the summer and autumn terms. We’ll be reviewing the scheme regularly and we’d be very grateful for feedback so we can make sure the team are working in the best way possible. We will also use the feedback to consider long-term delivery.

Please send any questions or feedback to Sarah Gardner, Community Relations Manager at community@reading.ac.uk

University Community Forum – 9 May

I would like to invite you to a Community Forum being held at the University on Wednesday 9 May at 6.30pm.

The forum will provide an opportunity for residents living alongside the University to meet with the Vice-Chancellor, Sir David Bell, and ask questions about the University’s local engagement and impact. We hope that this will be an opportunity for local neighbours to shape and influence our community strategy. A short panel discussion, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, with updates about the Street Support Team (see below) will be followed by a Q&A session. In addition to University colleagues, the panel will include representatives from local police teams.

The event will be taking place at the London Road campus, building 22, room G01. Refreshments will be provided.

As we have limited room space, it would be helpful if you could RSVP if you wish to attend. community@reading.ac.uk