Our Community Needs Analysis went live last summer. Our goal was to gather broad input about community concerns and start to create a community talent bank. Response was much less than expected, less than 30 people.
The top five issues identified in order of concern (we had a tie for #1) were:
1. Sense of community belonging
2. Neighbourhood safety/petty crime
3. Seniors’ basic needs, social isolation, and security
4. Supports for caregivers and parents
5. Community social activities
Brentwood Cares is all volunteers with a budget of zero, but we can access grants and Brentwood has amazing talents. Based on final survey results and community discussions, we’ll look at the topics we can tackle and those we can engage others to provide support with. This year is Brentwood’s 60th anniversary, a chance to build community, address social isolation, and have more community social activities. We’ll have to look at how we might support caregivers and parents through things like community movie nights, respite care hours; and how overall we can make anniversary events more accessible?
If you have skills or talents you’d like to share with our community, please let us know. Are you skilled in dance or art, would you like to tutor French or perhaps teach people how to bake? Do you have free time to babysit for a single parent or a couple without relatives close by?
Survey covers: Affordable housing, Seniors’ basic needs, social isolation and security, Food Insecurity, Community social activities, Supports for caregivers and parents, Community mental health support, Community educational opportunities, Sense of community welcoming, Sense of community belonging, and Neighborhood safety/petty crime. As well, there is an option to add other concerns we may have missed.
For some concerns, like affordable housing, Brentwood Cares will be limited in what we can do. Perhaps providing sessions on budgeting and options to manage other costs. Brentwood Cares can certainly help address concerns like social isolation, social activities, and community education activities.
Survey link: http://bit.ly/BrentwoodCares2022
