The minutes of
South Childwall Residents’ Association
6th Annual General Meeting
At The Childwall Abbey Hotel
7pm, Monday 20th October 2025,
The meeting started at 7.05
Present: 27 members, including 2 councillors
B Cameron – Chair – Welcomed all present.
The reason for SCRA:
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Grew from a Neighbourhood Watch group.
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Became a Residents Association as it grew larger in 2019. Run by a committee of volunteers who are also residents.
Aims. Aim 1
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To represent the views of members to Childwall Councillors and other relevant partners and to work towards ensuring that the best interests of members are served.
In the past year, Representatives from SCRA met with our councillors each month and discussed your concerns.
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Anti-Social Behaviour and Vandalism
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Irresponsible/dangerous parking
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Neglect of green areas by the council
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Areas of concern – access roads behind shops
Aim 2
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To ensure that all members are consulted regularly and that all residents entitled to membership are encouraged to join.
We do that with
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Posters,
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Information tables at events
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Leaflets
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Contact details on all correspondence
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The Website
Aim 3
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To improve residents’ security and the environment
Achieved by
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Locking the gates to the woods.
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Meeting with the police and sharing images and information.
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Following up relentlessly to get action.
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The WhatsApp Group – Sharing and alerting residents
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Report problems to councillors and the Neighbourhood Manager.
Improve Our Environment.
With the Rubbish Friends litter picking group. Second Sunday of each
Aim 4
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To encourage a greater sense of community.
Achieved by
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Community Events throughout the year.
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Interest groups at the Abbey and at Hope University
Choir, Book Club, Crafting, Art, Drama, Meditation
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Social Groups Quiz and Bingo at the Abbey
All of the SCRA activities are aimed at bringing the community together.
The audience was told that SCRA was a member of a group of six associations from this area that worked together for the good of the community. Childwall All Together.
Who are Childwall All Together
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South Childwall Residents’ Association (SCRA)
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All Saints Church
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Friends of Childwall Woods and Fields
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Liverpool Hope University
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Childwall Abbey School (CAS)
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Childwall in Bloom
Together they apply for funding for the community, share resources and supply a wide range of events for the community.
The SCRA Committee 2024-2025
Chair – Brenda Camerom
Vice Chair – Simon Quinn
Secretary – Elaine Kerr
Treasurer – Geoffrey Titchmarsh
Membership Secretary – Geoffrey Titchmarsh
Police Liaison Secretary – John McCombs
Community Liaison Secretary – John McCombs
WhatsApp Group Secretary – Elaine Kerr
Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – Geoffrey Bird
Craft Group Leader – Jan Barnes Orme
Website Manager – Brenda Cameron
Non-Trustee Role
Assistant Membership Secretary – Diane Jones
The trustees on the committee for 2024-2025 then stood up and were introduced to the audience.
Treasurer and Membership Secretary – Geoffrey Titchmarsh presented the Treasurer’s Report.
TREASURER’S ACCOUNTS SHEET
Financial Year 2024-2025
1/10/24 Opening balance £1,185
Total credits £4136.20
Total debits £3511.83
31/09/25 Closing Balance £1,810.32
Financial year – October 2024 to September 2025 – Transactions breakdown:-
Balance carried forward from previous financial year 2023/2024 £1,185.95
Total Debits. £3,511.83 during this financial year covered expenditure on:-
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Annual Public Liability Insurance £117.60,
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2024 AGM
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Catering expenses £42.67,
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Other expenses -Flowers & gifts to Speaker, Host ; retiring trustee £71.20,
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Christmas 2024
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Mince pies and Christmas cards for our senior members £10.25,
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Catering expenses at the tree lighting event at Church Hall £104.43,
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Trees & lights above shops on Childwall Triangle £500.00, (Grant from City Council, see credits)
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Purchase of 2 large Gazebos for community events £1,933.00, (Funded by ‘Local Neighbourhood Fund’)
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Purchase of Trolley, Chairs, Equipment for community events £202.43. Funded by ‘Local Neighbourhood Fund’
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Lloyds Bank’s monthly service charges £30.25,
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Charitable donations to Macmillan Cancer Support £250.00, and to Liverpool Sunflowers Cancer Care £250.00 each
Total Credits figure of £4,136.20 during this financial year comprised income from:-
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Members’ voluntary donations made upon joining or at renewal are £1,007.00,
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Our Crafting Group – donations collection from sale of items £129.20,
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2 grants from City of Liverpool’s ‘Local Neighbourhood Fund’ £2,500.00,
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City Council Grant for Christmas Trees and lights for Childwall Triangle shops, £500.00.
Geoff Titchmarsh then presented the Membership Report
Membership increased again during the last 12 months and currently stands at 124 members/households.
The audience was told that over 75 of those households are couples, so it could be said we now serve the interests of over 200 residents.
The next trustee to present was Community Liaison Secretary and Police Liaison Co-ordinator – John McCombs
John presented the Childwall All Together Community Partnership.
Progress update
The audience was told that
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Childwall All Together is a not-for-profit Community Partnership
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Connected, collaborative, community in Childwall
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Aims to share assets (physical, human, technological) to support the aims of partnership organisations
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To extend the reach of our community organisations, supporting residents
John continued to tell the audience that it’s important to be in a connected community.
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Connected neighbourhoods have less crime
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Living in a supportive community increases our chance of good health by 27%
John continued his presentation by talking about social cohesion
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Social cohesion is the degree to which a community is bound together by a shared vision,
And
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Social capital is the value derived from social networks and relationships, which provides resources and support for individuals and groups.
He then talked about the impact of the Church Acre on the children from Childwall Abbey School who find they can achieve in outdoor horticultural work.
John talked about the assets of all the members of Childwall All Together being used and shared as they were needed.
He then showed images of Chill-fest, which was a celebration of all the groups in Childwall, showing a community in action.
John spoke of Collaborations and named a few.
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Hope and SCRA – Community Choir
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CAS and Hope – Internships, Christmas Markets
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All Saints, CAS and FCWF – The Church Acre
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All Saints and CAS – Tea@2, Local History
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FCWF and Hope – History walk, Philosophy walk, ‘In Living Memory’…
John looked at community collaboration going forward.
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Christmas Tree Lighting – Nov
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Volunteer Celebration Event – September
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Community Recognition – December
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Chill Fest – June
John finished his presentation with a quote from a resident.
‘I’ve lived in Childwall for 30 years… For the first time… it really feels like we have a community.’
John talked about his role as Police Liaison Secretary
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Regular meeting with the police, sharing information
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Helping areas of drug use to be raided, drug paraphernalia being seized, and arrests being made.
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Campaigning for parking attendants at the Triangle and nearby roads to combat antisocial parking.
Looking forward
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More meetings with our PCSO and an organised sweep of the woods to look for drug paraphernalia and/or firearms.
This took us to our break, where refreshments, tea/coffee, cake and pastries were on offer to attendees.
After the break, the old committee stepped down, and the audience was asked if there was anyone who wanted to be considered for the post of Chair. No one stepped forward, so Brenda Cameron was nominated as chair by John McCombs and seconded by Michael Gillin.
The audience was asked if anyone wanted to be considered for any of the posts on the committee, but as no one stepped forward, the trustees from 2024 – 2025 were returned unopposed for 2025 – 2026.
The committee for 2026 is:
Chair – Brenda Camerom
Vice Chair – Simon Quinn
Secretary – Elaine Kerr
Treasurer – Geoffrey Titchmarsh
Membership Secretary – Geoffrey Titchmarsh
Police Liaison Secretary – John McCombs
Community Liaison Secretary – John McCombs
WhatsApp Group Secretary – Elaine Kerr
Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – Geoffrey Bird
Craft Group Leader – Jan Barnes Orme
Website Manager – Brenda Cameron
Non-Trustee Role
Assistant Membership Secretary – Diane Jones
Michael Gillin offered to take on a new position on the committee, that of Social Media Secretary and Website Assistant. He was nominated by Brenda Cameron and seconded by John McCombs.
Janet Brown OBE 1955-2025
The chair halted proceedings for a moment to consider the work that
Jan Brown had done for SCRA through the years, and to thank her in her
Absence.
The Keynote speaker was introduced
Lorna Lyons – St Helens Neighbourhood Watch Leader
Lorna spoke about the importance of communities working together as a
way of bringing down crime in the neighbourhood.
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Lorna told us that by reporting crimes at the time they were happening, there was a better chance of action being taken by the police.
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It must be the person who experienced the incident who reports it. Third-party reporting is not as valid
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Reporting can be done on the Police page of Facebook – Merseyside Police Contact Centre, and that is monitored to pick up reports of crimes instantly.
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Give as many details about the person as possible, even stripes on shoes can be useful in identifying a person.
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Crimestoppers is another place to report details anonymously.
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The more incidents that are reported, the more attention the area will get from the police, and resources and patrols will be given to the area. So don’t be scared to report
Lorna left a leaflet for members.
She asked if we wanted stickers for our doors to stop cold calling. She will supply some of those.
Lorna also told the audience never to open the door without looking to see who is there first. If they are not known to you, do not open the door.
She gave us some websites about scams. Bank scams are prevalent at the moment. They will be posted on the ‘Useful police information’ page on the website.
Lorna knew about an incident of indecent exposure in our area. She recommended running away from the person immediately, and when safe, calling 999 right away. That would be taken seriously by the police, and a patrol would be sent immediately.
Lorna finished her talk by giving out small card protectors and by emphasising the importance of the Neighbourhood Watch Street groups.
In areas where streets have a connected group, crimes in that area are greatly reduced.
Lorna was thanked by the chair and given a bouquet.
Thanks were given to
Lorna for introducing the Neighbourhood Watch to us
Dr Tracy Ramsey for her community work throughout the year
Rubbish Friends who turn out in all weathers
The volunteers on the committee
Jill and Geoff Bird for volunteering their dining room as the head office.
The Childwall Abbey Hotel for its ongoing support
Our Councillors for leading the Rubbish Friends at the Fiveways,
for meeting with us each month and for attending the meeting.
Thanks to all for attending the meeting.
Contact details were given
www.scral16.co.uk
L16scra@gmail.com
Attendees were asked to take a leaflet home for their neighbours before being bid ‘goodnight’.
The meeting closed at 9 pm.
B. Cameron 03/11/2025