How ACT began

On 16 October 2003, two St Augustine's residents Sally-Ann Reynolds and Donna Williams, concerned at levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area and the lack of good quality amenities for local families and children,  organised a public meeting in St Augustine's Hall.

During this meeting St Augustine's Community Together Residents' Association (also known as ACT or SACTRA) was formed to give people living and working in the
St Augustine's area* of Norwich a forum where they could express their concerns about issues affecting their daily lives, homes, families and businesses. Very soon the group also began campaigning to make St Augustine's a great place to live, work and play.

Local issues & campaigns

Some of the issues SACTRA has addressed include:

• Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour by working with Norfolk Police, Safer Neighbourhood community policing teams, the City Council and its Community Wardens.
• The provision of good quality social amenities, such as improved green spaces and child-play facilities in St Augustine's churchyard and Gildencroft park, as well as supporting the setting up of a parent and toddler club, 'Cheeky Monkey' (for details click here).  We are a member of the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Programme.
• Improving the dilapidated appearance of some of the buildings in St Augustine's by working closely with Norwich City Council and other bodies such as the Norwich Society.
• The economic and cultural regeneration of the northern city centre area of Norwich as a stakeholder in the Northern City Centre Area Action Plan forum.
• Environmental problems, such as poor or inadequate refuse management and recycling facilities, litter, graffiti, vermin, dog fouling in public parks, broken or defaced signage and broken or inadequate street and security lighting.
• Reducing traffic congestion and noise, poor air quality and unsafe roads, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Helping people save regulary and have the opportunity of having safe, low-interest loans by supporting the setting up of a branch of Ketts Credit Union in the area (see under Finance in Local Directory).

To read news of current community issues click here.

SACTRA has campaigned on all these issues and seen great improvements but there is still plenty to do. If you want to get involved come along to our next public meeting and make your voice heard or contact us with your views, problems and ideas by clicking Contact Us.

Community meetings

SACTRA holds free and open public meetings in
St Augustine's Hall every couple of months or so throughout the year. These are regularly attended by the area's elected City and County Councillors, City Council's Community Engagment officers, Broadland Housing Association housing managers, Neighbourhood Wardens and Norfolk Police's Community Support Police Officers.

Click on News and Events for details of our next meeting.

ACT - A properly constituted body

St Augustine's Community Together Residents' Association (also known as ACT and SACTRA) is a fully constituted, non-denominational, non-party political, voluntary, community association managed by an annualy elected executive committee. Currently these are Nicholas Vesey (Chair), Sally-Ann Reynolds (Joint Deputy-Chair), Donna Williams (Joint Deputy-Chair), Stuart McLaren (Secretary & Treasurer) and Ian Robertson (Broadland Housing Association tenants' representative). Elections to the executive committee are held at the annual general meeting each January. Membership of the Association is free and open to everyone over the age of 16 who lives or works in the St Augustine's area.* Persons under the age of 16 may be admitted to junior membership at the discretion of the executive committee.

Area we cover

*The St Augustine's area includes Bakers Road, Barnes Yard, Botolph Street, Catherine Wheel Opening, Chatham Street, Damien Elton Court, Dog Yard, Ebenezer Place, Edward Street, Esdelle Street, The Gildencroft, Hindes Yard, Howard Terrace, Key and Castle Yard, The Lathes, Leonards Street, Magpie Road (south side of road from St Augustines Gate to Edward Street), Malzy Court, Nichols Yard, Oak Street (north of the inner ring road), Pitt Street, Quakers Lane, Rose Yard, St Augustine's Alley, St Augustine's Gate, St Augustine's Street, St Martin-at-Oak Wall Lane, Stonemasons Court, Sussex Street, Talbot Square, Talbot Yard and Winecoopers Arms Yard.

To see where St Augustine's is located click here.