Neighbourhood Watch unveils bold new strategy

Ambitious five-year plan backed by extensive consultation with over 11,000 people sets out vision where neighbours look out for each other, through Neighbourhood Watch, connect and act. 

Neighbourhood Watch Network has today launched its new strategy for 2026-2030, setting out a bold ambition to create flourishing communities where neighbours look out for each other. The strategy commits to building safer, connected and active communities through three key goals: Bringing neighbours together, demonstrating impact, and being trusted innovators.

Extensive engagement

As the organisation reached the end of its previous five-year strategy in 2025, Neighbourhood Watch commissioned Caplor Horizons to lead an extensive consultation process that brought together the voices of members, staff, stakeholders and the wider community.

The engagement was remarkable in its scale and depth, including a strategy development survey that received over 11,000 responses, four focus group discussions with Association Leads, Police and Police and Crime Commissioners, young people and crime and community-based charities. 

Neighbourhood Watch volunteers took part in three strategy development workshops. And a strategy feedback session was hosted at the national online conference with 450 participants, in addition to dedicated engagement sessions with Association Leads and Trustees.

Watch, Connect and Act: a distinctive approach

What makes this strategy distinctive is Neighbourhood Watch's commitment to three interconnected pillars:

• Neighbourhood Watch provides vital information and resources that help all people avoid becoming victims of crime, sharing intelligence on actual and potential criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.
• Neighbourhood Connect delivers initiatives that help people of all ages and backgrounds connect with their neighbours, reducing loneliness and isolation while fostering powerful mutual support.
• Neighbourhood Act empowers everyone to get involved in practical activities that directly improve their local area, making a tangible difference to where they live.

Key initiatives and commitments

The strategy includes ambitious plans to launch a flexible-volunteering programme that speaks to people of all ages and backgrounds, re-launch the "Communi-Tea" initiative to bring neighbours together over a cup of tea, develop a Buddy Scheme for local coordinators to support new volunteers, and expand the Cyberhood Watch programme to tackle modern, online-enabled crimes including fraud, scams and phishing.

The charity will also build wider community partnerships beyond traditional police relationships, working with fire and ambulance services, local authorities, housing groups and community organisations including food banks and warm spaces. A Community Grants Programme will expand to £15,000 per year to support local projects.

Central to the strategy is a new focus on storytelling and demonstrating impact through both powerful community stories and robust evidence. A comprehensive Communications and Storytelling Strategy will be implemented, alongside investment in digital infrastructure including a revamped website with a dedicated "Story Hub" and a revitalised volunteer "Knowledge Hub."

Building trust through innovation

Neighbourhood Watch will strengthen its role as a trusted, forward-thinking organisation by partnering with police forces to create strategic training programmes, expanding annual awards to champion community successes and volunteers, and delivering widespread Bystander Approach training across England and Wales.

The strategy will also see the development of the charity's policy campaigning role, working with members and supporters to support crime prevention and community safety campaigns.

Vision for the future

The strategy sets out a compelling vision: "A society where neighbours come together to create safer, stronger, and more active communities" with a mission to support and enable individuals and communities to be connected, active, and safe, which minimises crime and increases wellbeing.