NEVER underestimate the power of giving someone a KEY in a community. It could be a key to a room, a hall for a meeting, an activity, a hobby, a place for people to connect will mean that community activities happen.
Sure it comes with sign out and return, rules and guidelines for use of the space. People need keys to be able to share in the resources that are available. Schools have many rooms, and meeting spaces; community centres also have many spaces for differing needs. Over 10 years of giving out keys we have never regretted giving out a key.
Keys empower people. Keys embody trust, and my experience is that to everyone we have entrusted a key, they have respected that trust.
A tip: Make the key to fit the door also open the cleaning cupboard ... it helps ensure that people will clean up easily when they have finished using it.
Sure it comes with sign out and return, rules and guidelines for use of the space. People need keys to be able to share in the resources that are available. Schools have many rooms, and meeting spaces; community centres also have many spaces for differing needs. Over 10 years of giving out keys we have never regretted giving out a key.
Keys empower people. Keys embody trust, and my experience is that to everyone we have entrusted a key, they have respected that trust.
A tip: Make the key to fit the door also open the cleaning cupboard ... it helps ensure that people will clean up easily when they have finished using it.
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We keep hold of the centre key as we use the place every week for our group. We feel that this place really does belong to us when they let us have our own key. Silvia, Badminton Club
They make it easy for us to pick up and drop off a key 'cos we only use the meeting room every three months. We appreciate finding the place clean and tidy from the last people. James, Friends of the Harbour We had to go through all the induction stuff at first to know the rules, and where the cleaning gear is. It was thorough about emergency exits and things, and how to find all the chairs, but we're in the routine now. It works for us to be able to get a key so easily. Christina, Housie Huddle |
