We are thrilled that you have made the decision to start a group and we are here to support you…
By starting a Neighbourhood Watch group, you are joining our network of over 90,000 volunteers who have also made the decision to make their area a better place to live. Together.
Part of joining our network of Coordinators, is that you are fully supported with tips to bring your community together and become resilient, look out for each other and share best practice, access our resources, including our Knowledge Hub (a dedicated platform for our volunteers to talk with each other, and access training opportunities), and crime prevention information.
At Neighbourhood Watch we are excited to be able to make this a better place to live. Together.
One of the most important steps when starting up a group is to decide on what it wants to achieve, who it wants to help and how it will celebrate its success.
- Step 1: Why do you want to start a group in your area
Think about the reasons why you would like to start a group in your area. This could be about bringing your neighbours together, getting to know them and feeling a better-connected community. It could be that you have been affected by crime in your area and want to support your neighbours to know what they can do as individuals and as a community to address the concerns and reduce the opportunities for crime. You might also want to look at your area’s crime statistics on www.police.uk or think about who lives in your neighbourhood and how they might benefit from belonging to a Neighbourhood Watch group. - Step 2: What can you do as a group to make your area a better place to live
We encourage our members to take positive and proactive actions to help reduce loneliness, isolation, and opportunities for crime to happen in their communities. Activities such as a litter pick, sharing crime prevention tips, coffee morning, holding events and supporting each other. We have a range of “How to” guides to help support you. - Step 3: How can you make it happen?
Think about the resources that will help you to carry out your planned activities. Resources don’t just mean money; they also include things like time, space for meetings, and access to resources such as stationery and printers. Are there other community groups in your area you could work with who have access to resources? - Step 4: Get your neighbours onboard
Getting your neighbours together to join in with the activities will ensure that your group is a success. The measurement of success is done by how your community feel. For example, if they have taken part in a litter pick with the other neighbours, they feel that they have made their area a better place to live and feel proud about how he community came together to do it, helping to reduce antisocial behaviour and having fun with their neighbours.
Applying to start your group is as easy as 1,2,3...
1. Check if a local group is already in your area. Use our postcode checker to enter your postcode and see if a group is already registered in your street. If there is one, click on the scheme and you will be able to message the Coordinator, become a member and join the scheme. If there is not a scheme in place, you can apply to set one up.
3. Approval of group/scheme. Once you have submitted your application, you will be contacted by a local Neighbourhood Watch representative. There are local protocols in place and this is to ensure that you are connected with the local Associations and support offered in those areas. If you have not had your scheme approved within 10 working days, please do contact your local Association.
