Neighbourhood support groups

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 11

Neighbourhood support groups

“A Solution — Neignoourhood Support Groups” is a half hour film screening on Two this evening which offers a solution to neighbourhood crime and family violence. It shows how, by working together in their neighbourhood, people can identify, prevent and eradicate violence. It looks at several social issues and problems — including domestic violence, rape, child abuse, incest, home security, self defence and policing. Developed by a group of Auckland Neighbourhood Support women, and produced and directed by two of its members — Liz Greenslade and Julie Stretton — this film aims to help people set up groups, identify problems in their neighbourhoods, and come up with positive solutions. “Until a few years ago there was a conspiracy of silence about violence,” says Liz Greenslade. “No-one talked about domestic violence, incest and child abuse. This silence was maintained by the media, the police, the courts and the health pofessionals, and was reinforced within families. This has now changed, and our film further helps to remove family violence from the list of taboo subjects.” Although the film was made a year ago, she says she is pleased about its screening date. “Christmas can be sheer hell — a lonely and vulnerable experience for many. And it’s a time when domestic violence and abuse flourishe, aided by isolation. The holidays are a good opportunity for people to go and knock on their neighbours’ doors and introduce themselves.” The film’s presenter is the television and marketing personality, Catherine Saunders, herself a Parnell Neighbourhood Support Group founder and streetcoordinator. She says she considers the film of vital importance to the community. “The film tells the story of how Neighbourhood Support Groups are creating safe happy homes throughout New Zealand, how they break down isolation and cut down crime,” says

Julie Stretton describes the film as “a combination of well researched facts and drama inserts, combined with accounts of real experiences and success stories.” Viewers may be shocked and appalled by the hardhitting statistics on violence “but,” she says, “although the film is a strong statement against violence, no violent scenes are actually shown.” The situations are mimed by Theatre Corporate actors who are all involved in Neighbourhood Support groups in their own suburbs. Three of the production team were professional film makers from Blue-stockings Productions Ltd who have also been committed to Neighbourhood Support from the first days of its formation in St Mary’s Bay, Auckland. The film was produced on a shoe-string budget, with grants from the United Building Society and New Zealand News Ltd. Other funds for the video were donated by the J. B. McKenzie Trust, the Mental Health Foundation and the Advisory Committee on Women’s Affairs. Liz Greenslade says: ‘“A Solution’ was designed for the thousands of people working away quietly in their own streets, the members of Neighbourhood Support Groups who do the real work. They are the grass roots campaign against violence. sharing a vision for a

better life.” Common attitudes today are that “Society is becoming more violent,” “People are afraid to walk the streets, fearful even in their own homes,” “New Zealanders are becoming immune to violence because nothing can be done and no-one cares.” “It is just this kind of apathetic environment in which crime thrive," says Liz Greenslade. “But something can and has been done. Neighbourhood Support gives everyone a way to care, not just for ourselves, but for others, our children, our old people, and our women at home alone.” It all started two and half years ago when a group of women, angered by a vicious attack on a woman neighbour in her own home, decided they had had enough. They began to help themselves to find ways to stop all forms of violence. . The Neighbourhood Support movement started a social revolution that was contagious. “It’s now sweeping through the neighbourhoods of this country. About 6000 groups and hundreds of thousands of people are right behind it.” A Neighbourhood Support Group fosters neighbourhood awareness. “The aim is to create a responsive, caring community where all people are committed to take responsibility for their own well-being in a violence and crime-free society. “Because our mailbox was crammed full with enquiring and sometimes heart-rending letters, and our phone lines were jammed all day by people wanting to know our strategies and techniques, we decided to share our information and published a practical information kit,” says Liz Greenslade. “It’s now a best seller with 60,000 copies already distributed to street groups throughout the country, and a third edition under way. But then we were deluged with people wanting us to speak at their public and street meetings, so instead a complementary film was made to meet this need. “It povides positive ideas for crime prevention in the community and we’re all benefiting from the results.”