I've been a coordinator for two NW groups since 1998 and one thing has always baffled me is why Avon and Somerset Police have coordinators work in silos to other other coordinators, to me this seems wrong and limits our effectiveness. When someone is a new coordinator for a new NW group they need an experienced coordinator to help explain why things are done as they are, where to get advice, someone to tell them about websites like www.asnwa.org. Without the support of another coordinator they then have to contact ASP to ask the questions, taking ASP officers away from other matters. Again with this silo culture when new NW tools come available ASP don't tell us, I'm not blaming ASP officers for not telling us because they have other priorities but instead making the point if coordinators work together we share information and tell each other about a great new tool becoming available. To my way of thinking NW coordinators should be taking work away from ASP officers but because of this silo culture the reverse happens and coordinators end up being zombies.
What I'm asking for: 1) The Terms and Conditions for all NW coordinators changed to say they are happy to share contact details like email address with other local coordinators to help support each other, 2) A new coordinator is assigned 'an experienced buddy coordinator' to mentor the new coordinator.
From my experience I find other coordinators are fine with sharing an email address, and if they aren't prepared to work with other coordinators then you have got to question whether they are fit to be a NW coordinator. Noted www.ourwatch.org.uk has now given us a tool to make contact with other coordinators, but a new coordinator would need to be told about this in the first place or get lucky and accidentally find the feature, plus some NW groups are not on it.
Thank you for your post on the Open Forum - and I must say that I fully agree with your observations.
We have been looking into how to arrange for co-ordinators to contact each other through the website - it's still work in progress as it will require some server-side Javascript development for which we will need some expert help. It's definitely something to get sorted in 2020.
Many thanks Admin for getting back to me. I can write Javascript, however I don't see this as the main problem because we can contact each other on the national website, www.ourwatch.org.uk
What I was hoping for is clarity from Avon and Somerset Police on changing the way they do things, the Terms and Conditions that a new coordinator signs needs changing, ASP officer needs to change their procedures and assign a buddy, so the whole of this request needs to go through a 'Change Request' process, probably discussed at a big ASP meeting. I thought this website part of it function is to do this, NW coordinator's feedback to ASP, am I mistaken? I am looking for Admin or someone in ASP to take ownership of this Change Request?
I think it’s a good idea. I’m a new co Ordinator or feel new. I began our group I think a year ago , but it would be useful to have a buddy to discover the do’s and do nots. This Christmas I sent out the Food Bank list of food wanted and also details on what our homeless shelter were short off. . I wasn’t sure wether it was allowed or not but I got a good response for sleeping bags we managed twelve in the end.
Alex, I think that because of JavaScript restrictions this will/may need to be server side. I have drafted a specification that I can send. The problem with Ourwatch is that their database only holds a small fraction of NW co-ordinators, hence the need for a more inclusive system. We also need to think more widely to offer the service to Farm Watch, Horse Watch etc and anyone subscribed to ASNWA not in a Scheme. ASNWA is independent of the ASP. We have a designated SPOC at Portishead HQ any liaison is formally through that connection. Although we do communicate directly with the CC and PCC.