Neighbourhood Watch Launches Nationwide Recruitment Drive

Neighbourhood Watch Launches BETTER PLACE TO LIVE Campaign, Aiming to Boost Community Participation and Reduce Crime.

Neighbourhood Watch has launched its biggest recruitment drive in recent times with the BETTER PLACE TO LIVE campaign. The campaign aims to increase community participation, particularly among underrepresented groups, including 25 to 40-year-olds, Black and minority ethnic groups, and those living in high-crime areas. The campaign will run until the end of the year and will use a range of media and resources to invite people to play a more active role in their communities and register with the charity.

As part of the campaign, Neighbourhood Watch has adopted a new modern and inclusive logo, called the 'today' logo, to sit alongside its traditional logo. The campaign will have a particular drive during Neighbourhood Watch Week between the 3rd and 9th of June and has been launched on social media platforms and the Neighbourhood Watch website.

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch, said: "The cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic have highlighted the importance of neighbourhood and community connections in tackling loneliness and isolation, as well as our vital work in crime prevention. We have a proven track record of bringing communities together and helping them to feel safer in a more uncertain world."

To encourage participation, the charity is supporting its tens of thousands of volunteers to spread the word in their community. They are providing printed and digital resources and online workshops throughout the year to help coordinators increase their membership and encourage others to start their own groups. Coordinators can also support each other in tackling local issues through an online forum and training opportunities.

The campaign hopes to address reservations people have about joining their local Neighbourhood Watch scheme and increase participation and membership, particularly among underrepresented groups. To reach a younger audience, the charity has recruited a young people's project worker and a young trustee and established a presence on Instagram.

Neighbourhood Watch has been established within communities for over 40 years, helping people build more vibrant neighbourhoods and preventing crime. Its Community Safety Charter enables local people and businesses to stand up against crimes in public spaces such as antisocial behaviour, hate crime, intimidation, and harassment.

More information on the campaign can be found at ourwatch.org.uk/betterplacetolive.