Peer Visiting Programme

Across England and Wales, local Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups are coming up with solutions for their community’s problems. Some stick to tried-and-tested action, because they know that it’s working for them. Others are trying out new activities, successfully reaching new people and building their community.

For example, a new group in Cannock is harnessing the enthusiasm of young people to reduce anti-social behaviour, and improving the physical environment to reduce crime. However, it is still a new group and has not yet found a really good way for members to communicate.

Would you like to visit another Neighbourhood and Home Watch group, to find out what works for them and to share what works for you? Would you like talk about different ways to tackle common problems over a cup of tea?

Then sign up for a peer visit!

This involves a few people from your group travelling to another town to meet with a few people from another Watch group to discuss what you do. They are really easy ways to get new ideas for activities and for challenges that you’re facing. They’re also a chance to help other groups by explaining how they can copy your successes.

If you sign up for a peer visit, we will:

1. Match to you another group (as close to you as we can)
2. Provide up to £150 to cover travel expenses for you and up to three other members
3. Provide some suggestions for making the most of your visit

All you need to do is:

1. Fill out the registration form and the claim form
2. Visit your host at a time and place you both agree
3. Fill out a short survey afterwards, to let us know if you found it helpful or interesting

You need to sign up before 30th September 2010.

Explanation of programme
We want local groups to share what works with each other. We want to build relationships between groups to strengthen the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network. So we are encouraging groups to meet each other through this peer visiting programme.

We will match visitors to hosts according to their areas of interest. We will cover the costs of the visits and suggest a format for the discussion.

However, we are keen for visitors and hosts to make arrangements that work for them. So we will not provide facilitation, but let groups decide how they want to spend their time.

So you might choose to have a cup of tea in a café and discuss how to reach new members. Or you might prefer to meet in a community centre and discuss the range of activities that Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups can be involved in.

It’s up to you!

Examples of groups to visit

Groups across England and Wales are undertaking a variety of activities, with a huge range of achievements and challenges. Some of the topics for peer visit conversation might include:

1. Attracting new members
2. Communicating within groups (e.g. newsletters)
3. Working with government and other organisations
4. Involvement with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
5. Appealing to younger people
6. Meeting the needs of older people
7. Building a sense of community
8. Addressing anti-social behaviour in a positive way
9. Distributing security devices

Two examples of groups that have already agreed to be part of the peer visiting programme are Cannock and Wandsworth.

Cannock
The West Chadsmoor Community Partnership aims to strengthen the community by joining the forces of a number of agencies to tackle neighbourhood issues. The scheme is particularly unique as it has been initiated by a 17 year old young man, who became concerned over the vulnerable elderly residents living on his street. As well as developing key partnership links with existing Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the surrounding area, the vision for the future includes greater membership diversity through the involvement of younger people. In their short existence, they have already achieved some great things – such as improving their communal environment by pulling down a block of garages that was attracting antisocial behaviour.

Wandsworth
In Wandsworth, the local authority takes an important role in Neighbourhood Watch – in fact, coordination of Neighbourhood Watch activity is one of the core functions of the Wandsworth Borough Council’s Community Safety Division. Two dedicated Community Safety Officers are responsible for establishing new schemes and supporting existing schemes in their actives.
“Neighbourhood watch is not about being nosey or gossiping, it is about developing local knowledge, building community spirit and developing links with the local Safer Neighbourhood Police Team”.
Could more local authorities be persuaded to devote this level of resources?

Explanation of role of hosts

The hosts are expected to:

1. Arrange a venue. It could be a public place – a café or a pub, or a community centre, or wherever you usually hold your watch meetings. It’s up to you. Make it somewhere easy to find and easy for your visitors to get to. Check whether they’ll travel by car or public transport, and if they have particular needs (for example, if they use a wheelchair).
2. Provide refreshments. A bit of food and a warm drink always help conversation flow. Check if your visitors have any special dietary requirements.
3. Arrange a time. Whenever is suitable for you and your visitors, whether it’s a chat over breakfast and coffee or a discussion with an evening meal. This will of course depend on when people work, their caring responsibilities, and when they’re comfortable travelling.
4. Take the lead on discussions. Think about what your visitors might find interesting or useful. What do you do that is different or successful? Do you have any material to share with them (maybe a newsletter or a website)? And are you facing any challenges that might benefit from your visitors’ input?
5. Contact your visitors. Give them a call to make arrangements for the visit, and find out what they’re hoping to talk about.
6. Fill out a short survey after the visit to let us know your thoughts.

We will provide hosts with £100 to cover these costs.

Explanation of role of visitors
Visitors are expected to:

1. Think about what you’d like to discuss during the visit. Take along questions you have for them about how they run their group, any issues that your group is facing, and an explanation of what’s worked for you.
2. Travel to the hosts’ town for the visit.
3. Fill out a short survey after the visit to let us know your thoughts.

Your hosts will call you to make arrangements, and will provide a venue and refreshments for your visit.

We will provide visitors with up to £150 to cover their travel expenses.

Funding process

Once we have arranged your visit, you are automatically eligible for up to £150 to cover the expenses of your group. Just fill in a claim form and we will transfer the money into your account.

Please keep your receipts.

Return your forms by email or post to:
Sundeep Gill
sundeep.gill@nationalnhw.org

The host group is funded £100 to cover their expenses, including venue and refreshments.