Two communities in Barrow will get the chance to "speed-date" public bodies in the next week thanks to the Date-an-Agency initiative from Cumbria County Council's local committee for Barrow.
The ‘Date-an-Agency’ events organised by the local committee for offer residents to speak face-to-face with representatives from Cumbria County Council highways, Barrow Borough Council housing and environmental health, the police and the county council's fire and rescue service.
Date-an-Agency is coming to the residents of Hindpool between 12 and 2pm on Friday, 11th November, at Hindpool Community Centre on Nelson Street.
The community at Roosecote will get the same opportunity between 11am and 1pm at Rampside Village Hall on Tuesday, 15th November.
Based on the principle of speed dating, the Date-an-Agency initiative offers people a ten-minute slot with each of these organisations where they can raise their relevant issues and concerns.
Alan Nicholson, chairman of Barrow local committee, said: "We came-up with the idea to give local people a chance to air their views and get involved in shaping policies which affect them.
"These Date-an-Agency days mean that people can have a face-to-face conversation with organisations which can seem a bit remote. Its important because, if we are going to improve public services, we need to find out what people want from us, what we are getting right as well where there are problems and where we must do better."
Refreshments will be laid on and all residents who attend the event will be entered into a free draw in which they could win a £15 shopping voucher.
Further Date-an-Agency events will be held in other parts of the Barrow area in the coming months.