What is a Scheme
A Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is a community initiative, which is supported by the Police. Success depends on what the members make of a scheme, but Neighbourhood Watch gives people the chance to get to know and help each other better, particularly the more vulnerable.
How to Join A Scheme?
You can join your local scheme on the National Neighbourhood Watch Network website.
How to Set Up a Scheme
If there isn’t a scheme in your local area, you can apply to set up a new one.
Before you do this it’s important to decide on what the scheme will 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. - 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. - 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 other neighbours, they feel that they have made their area a better place to live and feel proud about how the community came together to do it, helping to reduce antisocial behaviour and having fun with their neighbours.
New schemes require approval and one of our representatives will be in touch to discuss further.