New City Warden Team Provides Peace Of Mind For Tenants

Housing Management organisation Sheffield Homes has extended its popular neighbourhood warden scheme city wide following demand from tenants and residents. The South East of Sheffield and the North of the city are two areas that will now benefit from the scheme, meaning there is now a team of fully trained wardens for each one of Sheffield Homes' housing areas.

Sheffield Homes, which manages over 40,000 homes on behalf of Sheffield City Council, has had teams of neighbourhood wardens in some areas since 2002. The scheme was a hit with tenants and residents and as of this month 62 wardens, split into teams across the city, will be pounding the streets to help Sheffield’s residents feel safer.

Cllr Chris Weldon, Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods, recently met a number of the new wardens and said; "I am really pleased that Sheffield Homes have listened to tenants and have rolled out this popular service to all of our neighbourhoods. Wardens provide a way for tenants and residents to report problems in their neighbourhood and ensure a direct link between Sheffield Homes and the communities they serve. The warden teams will also provide a lifeline for vulnerable residents and are key to achieving safer neighbourhoods".

The new city wide teams will address the issues that are important to Sheffield Homes’ customers such as tackling anti-social behaviour, improving the environment and engaging with communities. The new service will operate 6 days a week, Monday - Saturday. Each area will have a team who will travel round on foot or in a Sheffield Homes van.

The main role for the wardens will be working with the community, building up relations with young and old alike, and tackling anti-social behaviour. They will work closely with the police, in particular with Community Support Officers as part of Sheffield City Council’s wider commitment to creating safer neighbourhoods.

They will also be in regular contact with local Tenants and Residents Associations, and will work closely with the local anti-social behaviour teams, providing evidence from what they see on their patrols. Whilst on patrol they will also look out for vehicle nuisance, fly tipping, graffiti, security breaches and vandalism, helping to keep estates cleaner, safer and greener.

Neighbourhood Wardens will be managed locally as part of the Area Teams. Central responsibility for Neighbourhood Warden policy and procedure will rest with the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.