Inspiring Communities

Community engagement, fuelled by the launch of several new initiatives, including the introduction of Neighbourhood Watch schemes, has never been as strong as it is now in North Stonehouse in Plymouth following the success of a Home Office Safer Streets Fund project for the area. Although often referred to as the ‘forgotten part of the city’, North Stonehouse has a wonderfully vibrant and close-knit community of long-standing residents as well as a transient population moving through it. However, being close to the city centre has meant that the area has also sadly seen an increase in burglary

Describe what you did and why? The Old Millmeads Estate NW in Horsham, West Sussex held a 2-hour coffee morning fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer on Friday 4th September 2020. Over 50 residents came along in the morning, all helping to raise money for such a good cause. You can see from the photo we made good use of a members driveway, front gardens and even the public grass verges opposite to spread out to relax, chat and safely enjoy themselves over coffee, tea and delicious cakes. One resident had painted a beautiful, framed, watercolour picture of Horsham Market Square which, because

A Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch (https://neighbourhood.network/neighbourhood-watch/bexley-borough) had complained to the police about the state of the lit cabinet notice boards outside the police station. They had fallen into a state of disrepair and contained badly faded curled up children's drawings. A PC asked us to take over responsibility for the boards which we did. Duration of project: Current What worked well? We kept the four cabinets outside the police up to date with useful crime prevention information, which was seasonal and relevant

After consulting with residents and asking what people wanted to see in the area , hanging baskets was on the list. We thought it would help to create conversation and bring a sense of joy and pride in to the area . Duration of project: 18 months What worked well? The actual baskets worked out really well, along with Neighbourhood Watch stickers which we had designed and printed to go on all the baskets. Local businesses will be offered a chance to advertise for a fee which will go to the upkeep and maintenance of the baskets. How did you overcome any challenges? There were many challenges

We set up a community café in a local community centre in the heart of a high crime area. The local PCSO, who also is a skilled baker, and myself approached the local community centre in an area where there is high crime, low morale etc.

Meadow Road Neighbourhood Watch, in Derbyshire, asked residents to donate items for a local food bank. The collection took place in the run up to Christmas.

To keep our neighbourhoods clean and green. Cleaner streets are safer streets.

We acquired funding to set up a community defibrillator in the centre of our town. Two community Information/Training sessions were organised and we have introduced collection tins in local shops to fund the future replacement of the defibrillator and new pads when used.

Campaigning to turn a disused lay-by, which had attracted drug dealing, fly tipping and mugging, into a beautiful pocket park. Also campaigning for a disused shop front to be turned into a Window Gallery. Creating a more vibrant, safe and connected community.

The Meadow Road Neighbourhood Watch in Derbyshire have organised a street clean up. At the end of the road there is a footpath that goes through to Ripley cemetery and for some time we have had issues with anti-social behaviour taking place there during the day and night as an on-going problem.