Meet Your High Street Ambassadors
November 20, 2020
This week Mother and Son team Joanne and Marc Best put on their hi-vis vests and started their new role as Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s High Street Ambassadors. Joining the newly formed team they were keen to get on the street and be part of this visible presence offering support and reassurance to residents, visitors and businesses.
Viewed as an extension of the council’s Covid-19 response and recovery programme these Ambassadors are on the ground as a friendly source of information; a helping hand and someone to point you in the right direction.
The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Nicholas Trimble, welcomed Joanne and Marc to Lisburn and wanted to get this message across to everyone: “The importance of feeling supported cannot be underestimated at this time. Whether it is a listening ear, a friendly hello from a distance or making someone aware of the practical help on offer, we need to connect with our residents, visitors and business community now more than ever. The introduction of our High Street Ambassadors demonstrates the council’s commitment to working together to overcome the many challenges that we have all been trying to deal with. We have a strong community presence in Lisburn and Castlereagh and what better way to strengthen this by introducing this latest measure of support.”
Speaking about her new role Joanne said: “We both normally work for the council at Dundonald Ice Bowl however, while the facility is closed to the public under the current restrictions, we were keen to play our part in fighting this virus. We provided similar reassurances to the public in our parks over the summer and now the focus is on our shopping districts, making sure people feel safe in our council area.”
The following questions and answers will clarify the role of the High Street Ambassadors. Please give them a warm welcome and get any support you may need from them.
What are High Street Ambassadors?
High Street Ambassadors are a new team of LCCC workers who will be visible on the ground of our council area to offer support and a level of reassurance. If everyone works together we can visit and shop safely and responsibly.
What is their Role?
Working in teams of two the High Street Ambassadors’ role is to:-
- provide a visible presence and act as a friendly point of contact for residents, visitors and businesses who require advice on Covid-19 related matters
- signpost to available support (from the council and other local agencies or charities)
- encourage personal safety on our streets
- identify issues requiring the council (or other partner organisations) to take positive action, for example, addressing the need to empty bins more often in a specific street
- provide emergency face coverings (when available) to those requiring them.
Where will they be based?
Initially the High Street Ambassadors will be based in Lisburn City Centre and Dundonald. It is likely that they will travel around the council area in due course and details will be issued on our social media.
Can they impose fines?
No that isn’t the role of our High Street Ambassadors. Enforcement remains the responsibility of the PSNI and the council authorised Officers.
So let’s get behind our High Street Ambassadors and all continue to ‘Do the Right Thing, Right Now’.