“WE are here to stop pointing a finger and do something about it.”

These are the words of a man spearheading a group that wants to create positive change in Bournemouth town centre.

Simone Ippolito organised the first meeting of the BCP Bring Community Power group this week.

The director of the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce brought together some 30 people from across the town to discuss ideas on what could be done.

Simone, 31, moved to Bournemouth from his native Italy eight years ago and ‘wants to see everybody succeed’ in the town that he loves.

“We need to start to change the narrative,” Simone said.

“It starts with something as little as let’s get together, let’s talk about it and let’s see what we can do.

“The group of people that came [on Wednesday night] is a beautiful example of it.

“It started with a post on Facebook from me saying I’m fed up. But what can we do if you guys [The Daily Echo] are also just receiving negative stories?

“Let’s bring a positive to the game, let’s be that positive story.”

Bournemouth Echo: Simone Ippolito has organised the BCP Bring Community Power group.

Simone and the group, which included figures from a range of industries from hoteliers to creatives and event organisers, discussed realistic actions that would make a difference.

“These are 30 people that are coming with the common goal of we want to do something about it,” he said.

“It’s not reinventing the wheel, our something about it is let’s change the things we can control, let’s do little work, let’s do the work that nobody wants to do.

“Let’s pull together our skillsets, let's pull together our network. Let’s do things that don’t require money, let’s stop blaming the council for this and that and action things.”

Ideas included engaging security staff to volunteer for an extra hour a week to help keep people safe in the town centre, jet washing the area and creating regular markets to bring people to the town.

Simone appealed to security firms and other business owners, residents and more to come forward to become a part of the non-political group.

“We need more people to join us, we need more people to stand up and do their part,” Simone said.

“If you are living here, you are also responsible for it.

“We are all on the same boat, let’s help each other navigate into better waters, calmer waters, cleaner waters.”

To find out more about the group and to get involved, search 'BCP - Bring Community Power' on LinkedIn or Facebook.