Starting a scheme

Use our postcode search to check if there is a scheme in your area. If there isn't, you might like to think about setting one up yourself. We have lots of resources to help you get a scheme started and keep it running.

The first step is to talk to your neighbours and see who is interested and how they’d like to improve the area. To make things easier, we have some useful letters and flyers in our members area designed to help you introduce yourself and encourage your neighbours to join you.

You don't have to be a homeowner or permanent resident to start a scheme. You may very well want to feel safe where you live, meet people in your street or block of flats, and feel part of the local community as a tenant or short term resident, and everyone is encouraged to become involved in Neighbourhood or Home Watch. If you are a tenant, you might want to ask your landlord if there is any resource or support that they are prepared to give - making the area safer will benefit the landlord too. This guide from Sweden contains useful information about Neighbourhood and Home Watch in multiple occupancy buildings.

The postcode search can also help you find your local neighbourhood policing team. The police don’t run Neighbourhood Watch, but they will have useful information. They should be able to put you in touch with someone who can help you start a scheme and direct you to other local resources. This will be either one of their own officers or someone at the local Neighbourhood Watch Association.

You can get a new scheme started without necessarily committing to running it yourself. Once you’ve got enough interest from local people, you can select someone to become the coordinator for the group.

Remember, you can start a group with a lot of interest or only a little. Many schemes start very small and then grow once residents see what it’s all about. The main thing is to make a start.

Find out more

You’ll find lots more information on starting and running a scheme in our toolkits. You can also contact your Regional Representative, who will be able to signpost you to relevant contacts in your local area.