Bath’s two universities, Students’ Unions and Bath and North East Somerset Council have joined forces to launch this year’s Good Neighbour campaign.
Representatives from the University of Bath, Bath Spa University and Bath and North-East Somerset Council spent a day meeting residents to launch this year’s campaign, which aims to foster good relationships between students and Bath’s residents.
The Student Community Partnership (SCP) team knocked on over 500 doors in the Oldfield Park and Westmoreland areas to offer advice on waste, recycling and bin collection days among other issues, with the aim of encouraging neighbourliness and considerate behaviour within the community.
The University of Bath’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching, Professor Peter Lambert, and Bath Spa University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Student Experience, Dr Rebecca Schaaf, took part in the engagement exercise alongside Oldfield Park Ward Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall.
It was the first of the SCP’s activities this year, with further door knocking sessions planned throughout October.
Student residents were also given tips on living in Bath, such as how to make best use of public transport services and how to get involved in volunteering locally.
The SCP is a collaboration between Bath and North-East Somerset Council, the University of Bath, Bath Spa University, Bath College and their respective Students’ Unions to promote neighbourly relations, safety, sustainability and other aspects of community awareness.
One of the partnership’s current campaigns focuses on highlighting River & Night-time Safety in the city.
Prof Peter Lambert, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at the University of Bath, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Student Community Partnership and to support its work in promoting good neighbourly relations locally.
“I am very happy to launch this year’s campaign, and to meet with local residents today to understand their experiences and any concerns they may have.
“Projects like this are designed to address the concerns and questions of both students and local residents, and make sure students are equipped with useful information about how to be an asset to their local area.”
Dr Rebecca Schaaf, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Student Experience at Bath Spa University, added: “It has been wonderful to be part of the Good Neighbour Campaign this year, meeting residents and understanding their experiences and sense of community.
“We encourage our students to make the most of their time here and to get involved in the local area, and it’s extremely important to us that they establish good relations between themselves and their neighbours. We are proud to be part of the Student Community Partnership.”
Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall said: “Oldfield Park is home to a diverse range of residents, many of whom are students.
“It’s important that new neighbours introduce themselves to each other and have a good understanding of issues such as how bin collections work, who is responsible for the upkeep of their gardens and how to be a considerate neighbour, especially when residents’ lifestyles and hours can be so different.
“Getting to know your neighbours is so important and the SCP is helping to build communities, encouraging volunteering and sustainability.”
