£500,000 invested in Neighbourhood Watch groups to help fight crime and build communities

The Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network is collaborating with Capacitybuilders to support local groups make their communities safer and better places to live. The Home Office has pledged £500,000 to support this work with Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups across England and Wales .

Marion Lewis, Chair of the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network said:

“This money will provide a real boost to the Neighbourhood and Home Watch network.”

The Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network will be supported by Capacitybuilders to ensure the growth, development and increased effectiveness of local Neighbourhood Watch schemes. Currently membership of many local groups is under represented in hard-pressed areas, among the younger generations and in some sectors of the community. This project, led by a partnership between Capacitybuilders and the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network, will address those challenges.

Marion Lewis noted:

“We want Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups to be able to reach out to a diverse range of new members, including young people. It is important for us to encourage new groups in areas and communities where they do not usually exist, for example in inner city areas.”

Mark Custerson, Programme Manager for the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Support Programme, said:

“Research will explore the outstanding work of Neighbourhood Watch groups around the country, leading to good practise case studies that can inspire other groups. We hope to have case studies where groups have influenced local policy, or worked with other third sector organisations and broadened their activities. This showcase of local achievements will demonstrate how effective Neighbourhood and Home Watch can be.

“This project will build the sustainability and capacity of the movement with a revamped website and training toolkits. Regional Conferences will be held in January and February next year to ensure the grassroots are the focus of these developments. You can expect to see a lot more activity from Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups over the next few months.”

Matt Leach, Chief Executive of Capacitybuilders, said:

“Capacitybuilders is delighted with this opportunity to work in partnership with the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network. Alongside this support package we will be providing advice and support which we hope will enable them to support, communicate with and fully represent the neighbourhood watch movement. This work complements our other capacity building activities within the community and voluntary sector.”

The project is already underway and will run until March 2010.

Case studies and other resources developed will be shared via the NHWN website: www.mynhwn.co.uk and the Capacitybuilders Improving Support website: www.improvingsupport.org.uk.

END [438 words]

Editors notes
About Capacitybuilders:
Capacitybuilders is the Government Agency responsible for improving the
advice and support available to frontline third sector organisations.
Since 2006, it has invested some £100m in improving the support available to frontline third sector organisations.

Over the next year Capacitybuilders will be providing more than £30m of further investment, including direct support to third sector organisations to help them meet the challenges of the current economic downturn.

You can find out more about us at www.capacitybuilders.org.uk

About Improving Support:
Improving Support is an initiative led by Capacitybuilders and focuses on bringing together practical resources and learning for those providing advice and support to third sector organisations.

The Improving Support website, magazine and e-bulletin are accessed regularly by over 4000 organisations and individuals providing support to third sector organisations, highlighting best practice, training, toolkits and other resources, and enabling effective sharing of learning and experience.

To request a copy of the latest Improving Support magazine or subscribe to the e-bulletin visit: www.improvingsupport.org.uk/signup

The new look Improving Support website is available at: www.improvingsupport.org.uk

For more information about Improving Support or Capacitybuilders contact: rachael.lawrence@capacitybuilders.org.uk tel : 0121 237 5111

About the Neighbourhood and Home Watch
Network (NHWN)

The NHWN was established in 2007 and aims to support the growth, development and effectiveness of local Neighbourhood and Home Watch schemes. Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary movement in the UK and has had a measurable impact on reducing crime. In recent studies Neighbourhood Watch has been associated with a reduction in crime between 16 per cent and 26 percent. (See reference below)

More information about NHWN can be found on the official Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network website: www.mynhw.co.uk

More information regarding the effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch schemes can be found in Bennett et al, ‘The Effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch', [ http://db.c2admin.org/doc-pdf/Bennett_NeighborhoodWatch_review.pdf ].

For more information about the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network contact:

Marion Lewis, Chair of the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network: nhwn.1@btinternet.com

0116 222 2222 ext. 3871

Mark Custerson, Programme Manager

Mark.CUSTERSON@herts.pnn.police.uk

07738 503590

Community Cashback Scheme

A new pilot fund was launched today to give local people a direct say on how the ill-gotten gains of criminals can be used to benefit their communities.

The £4m Community Cashback scheme will be funded by money and assets seized from wealthy criminal kingpins. The public will be able to choose which worthwhile community projects are funded by feeding in their views to a new dedicated website, neighbourhood policing meetings or through Citizens Panels.

For more details go to http://www.mynhw.co.uk/news-full.php?id=394