Upper Parkstone Residents Association Group

It is with regret that on the 29th November 2005 the Association was disbanded due to lack of volunteers with the available time, experience, expertise, and willingness to commit themselves to the welfare and well-being of our community.

As the Salvation Army has reported, in a cash-rich, time-poor society, volunteers are hard to find. We now have a society that is putting an ever increasing emphasis on self-reliance and personal responsibility, and is reluctant to accept responsibility for others. The fact is that women are now breadwinners, and are unable to fulfil the traditional roles in extended families and the community.

We also found that small groups formed to deal with a specific local problem were joining us to obtain help and support, and when the problem was resolved were no longer prepared to remain and contribute their experience to others.

The membership therefore dwindled until only a small nucleus was left, and it was felt that the services of that small nucleus would be more effective if the individuals were to each join with one or more of the various partnerships that are being initiated by our local authority in response to the Government's call for the renewal of communities.

We should like to thank everyone who gave their time, experience and expertise freely and unstintingly to our organisation, and those organisations which invited us to participate in their projects. We shall now disperse to find where each of us can fit in to the greater schemes, but will keep in regular contact to recount our progress and maybe learn of other opportunities to help our local community.

Wendy Herring

Former Secretary