3 new things on BeckenhamTown.us

Hi Neighbours

The website is now well past the 1000 members mark and over the past month I added a few more sections to it, so please do check them all out and help them grow by using them regularly.

1. Volunteering - is a new tab that clicks through to a group to join and post any volunteer opportunities you know about locally or also perhaps ones you would like to volunteer for. It's both for organisations and residents. It seemed so in keeping with what the website is about, I wonder why I hadn't added it long before.

2. What did you pay? - this is a page that works on the principal that if local people post and share the prices they have been charged for jobs and services online then all neighbours will know who best to use and the average prices of services so not get worried about quotes or ripped off.

3. Marketplace - a free page to post any item you'd like to sell, trade, give away, whether you are a resident or a local business. Locals polled recently said they'd love a Market in Beckenham. Well if we can't have one on the Green, then why not let's have one online! It's already had some posts, which is great. Our own local eBay/Freecycle type page.

All worthy new additions, all waiting for you to use and share, so please do. With over 3,500 followers on Twitter these areas' posts get broadcast there too, with lots of ReTweets of them your posts could be viewed by 9-12,000 locals, such is the reach of local Twitterers who help each other out.

And talking about Twitter, changing the subject a little... if you tweet then please do add the hashtag  #BeckBromFL in your tweets as many locals are using it as a way to keep tweets localised and share, plus they are also creating 60-100 new friendships and many more followers this way.

The online tweetups happen every 2 to 3 weeks where 40-60 locals all chat simultaneously for 2 hours and it has been growing very quickly. In March the first offline meetup was arranged whereby 60 or so residents met at Baccarat Hair Salon, Beckenham High Street, for a great evening of drinks, amazing food and even some magic! So successful was the meetup that the next one will be on the 30th May with up to 80 attendees this time, hosted by Caffee Elizee, Bromley. So if you want a ticket then contact or pop into Baccarat Hair Salon on Beckenham High Street and quick, not many of the 80 tickets are left!

There's more about this and the live conversations all on the #BeckBromFL page on the website under the Home tab in the navigation line.

And finally...

A number of roads have now created their own private groups so that they can share notes and issues between neighbours, but not in the public eye; helpful for arranging Jubilee parties, Neighbourhood Watch, etc - Please check out the page to learn more here - Get To Know Your Neighbours, create your own private road group today.

It just leaves me to say a BIG THANKS as ever for all the posts and invites you create on the website, Twitter and Facebook. Have a wonderful Easter break and don't over do the chocolate eggs now!

Cheers

Jon C
Owner of a local website that is created by locals for locals - www.BeckenhamTown.us