DCA_MoreAboutUs

How the DCA started... In May 2006, after many months of problems in the area, residents of the area held a large public meeting at which they expressed concerns about graffiti, anti-social behavior and other nuisances like fly tipping abandoned cars and lack of recreational activities for young people in the area. Working as an informal group of neighbors with the local Safer Communities Police team, our local counselors and local MP we have helped improve the situation on quite a few of these issues.
One of the visible results of these efforts has been the gating of a number of alleyways using a grant from Ealing Council worth well over £3,000 which has helped make the area safer after dark and less prone to being the focus of antisocial behavior.

How the DCA started...

In May 2006, after many months of problems in the area, residents of the area held a large public meeting at which they expressed concerns about graffiti, anti-social behavior and other nuisances like fly tipping abandoned cars and lack of recreational activities for young people in the area.

Working as an informal group of neighbors with the local Safer Communities Police team, our local counselors and local MP we have helped improve the situation on quite a few of these issues.

One of the visible results of these efforts has been the gating of a number of alleyways using a grant from Ealing Council worth well over £3,000 which has helped make the area safer after dark and less prone to being the focus of antisocial behavior.

Why Join?
A Community Association is only as strong as its membership, so we’d urge you to join. The more members we have the louder our voice, the more hands we have, the easier the work and the greater the chance we have of getting things done. We’ve already gated some alleys and got a voice on the police Safer Neighborhoods panel.
	And with your support we can do so much more. In particular we can do things to actively improve the area like hold regular events like our neighbors over in the Pitshanger area. Our aim is to create an Association that will give everyone who lives in the area a chance to get involved and have their voice heard by the people who can help us make things happen. We also aim is to run this with the minimum of admin and focus on helping local people achieve the things they want to get done in the area and just enjoy living here more through having an active community.
Who Can Join? Anyone who lives or works in the area - the more the merrier! We want the Association to be for everyone in the community, no matter what your age, religion or politics. We want to represent your views and feel that everyone should have a say in what we do, whether you’re young and feel there are not’t enough amenities to keep you occupied, or you’re older and you want to feel more secure in and around your home. However, the Association can only succeed in this goal if people join in and contribute.
What will it cost?
	Running an organization like this will cost a small amount of money, which we aim to keep to to an absolute minimum and seek sponsorship where we can. But we are going to have to ask members to contribute towards the running of the Association. Membership for the first year has been set at £3 per person, £5 per couple or £1 for concessions. This will go towards printing leaflets, paying for hosting this web site and the other administration costs that an association accrues. Business membership will be by arrangement and we will use advertising where we can to generate money.
Before you make your mind up... Yes, we do have a Constitution. Its kind of a legal requirement and it sets out officially what the DCA can and can't do. You can see a .pdf or an .rtf version. The webmaster apologises but version 0.3, (13th March '07), is the latest one to hand - there may be a later one - if its important to you, do please . The constitution was developed by an interim committee, pending ratification by a fully elected official management committee.