Our News - March 2026

Hello Neighbours! 

A belated Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus (or Happy St David’s day) everyone, but especially our 52,000 members in Wales. St David was a 6th century monk, born in Pembrokeshire who famously advised: “Do the little things in life.” I love that advice, it chimes so well with what Neighbourhood Watch members do all the time. Through small actions every day, we make our streets better, safer and friendlier places to live. 

We have a date that we want you to put in your calendars. 1-7 June will be Neighbourhood Watch Week – the theme this year will be “communi-tea”. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s a mixture of community and tea party, and who doesn’t love a tea party? Find out more about what we have planned here. 

Highlights this month

Download our latest impact report

We are so proud to share our latest impact report, showcasing the amazing work of our members. From fitting 200 video doorbells for domestic abuse survivors to smart marking over 1,500 bikes, and supporting vulnerable people through the digital switch over, our volunteers make a difference where it matters most. These stories highlight how local actions create national impact. Download and read our latest impact report here. 
 

Our chair, Ian Bretman, blogs on the three pillars of our new strategy

The new Neighbourhood Watch strategy is based on three pillars. Alongside the familiar Neighbourhood Watch, which builds on our traditional crime prevention activity and continues to be our over-arching identity, we will have Neighbourhood Connect (helping people to connect with their neighbours) and Neighbourhood Act (enabling everyone to join practical activities to improve their neighbourhoods). Read Ian’s blog here. 

Home security experts ERA sponsor Neighbourhood Safety Training 

ERA is delighted to be the official sponsor of Neighbourhood Watch’s latest initiative, Neighbourhood Safety Training; a free teaching module created for business owners to upskill their workforce and help keep businesses safer. Learn more here. - AD

Spotlight: Hawthorn Neighbourhood Watch

Cathy from Hawthorn village near Pontypridd has been in touch to share some local success in South Wales. Not only does the active Neighbourhood Watch group do regular litter picks and community events, but they’ve also been reducing the problem of abandoned trollies, reporting them through Trolleywise. It is a free tool for iOS and Android that allows users to report abandoned shopping trolleys across the UK, find out more here. 

As the weather gets warmer, remember to secure your doors with Patlock

Patlocks are suitable for double French or conservatory doors with 2 horizontal handles. Designed to deter and stop would-be intruders, it provides extra security, a visual deterrent and instant peace of mind. Neighbourhood Watch members can purchase Patlock at the exclusive discounted price of £42.50 by clicking here. - AD 

8 March is International Women’s Day (IWD) 

And with over 50% of our membership being women, of course we are supporting it. The theme for IWD 2026 is ‘Give To Gain’ encouraging generosity and collaboration – and that is basically what good neighbours do all the time. If you’d like to host an event or get some inspiration check out the IWD resources page here. 

Help women in your community - ending violence against women and girls.

We hosted an online webinar on how to help women in your community. It was hosted by the brilliant Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of the Her Centre, a women’s advice and advocacy service. The session examined what domestic abuse is, the barriers women face in accessing support, and what we can all do to help. You can watch the full event here. 

Watch. Connect. Act. What does it mean to us? 

Thank you so much to all the wonderful community members who contributed to this video about our new strategy. We asked people to share what they liked most about the new strategy, what it means for them and the difference it will make. Watch the video and learn more about our new strategy here. 

Have you been targeted online? Free expert help is available

Worried about online scams, harassment or hacked accounts? The Cyber Helpline provides free, confidential support to help you stay safe online. Whether you've been targeted or want to protect yourself, their expert advisors and resources are here to help. Find out more here. 

Neighbourhood Watch lottery

Did you know you can support Neighbourhood Watch while also having the chance to win up to £25,000 a week? The lottery generates a steady source of income to deliver core work across England and Wales. These funds enable us to do more as a charity - support our volunteers better, build national projects, and make more of an impact. Play One Lottery here. 

Help the planet, and each other, with Olio

Olio is an app that helps you find what you need and share what you don’t. It’s a great way to connect with your neighbours, reduce waste and help the planet. We’ve been asking people on Olio to think about setting up Neighbourhood Watch groups. Find out more about how Olio can help build connections and support in your street. 

Spotlight: Rosegrove Neighbourhood Watch wants people to “Raise the Roof” 

The fantastic team at Rosegrove wanted to share their latest fundraising campaign, which aims to expand their Youth and Community Hub. The target is £10,000 to purchase a new container unit and create additional space for youth activities, wellbeing programmes and community events. It will allow them to grow their work with young people and families, providing safe, positive activities and opportunities that benefit the wider neighbourhood. Find out more on their Facebook page.

60 new Community Grants awarded for 2026

Every year, Neighbourhood Watch Network awards community grants to support local projects that help keep neighbourhoods safe. Now the funding round has closed and we are delighted to have supported dozens of inspiring projects across England and Wales. Find out more about the successful projects here. 

High streets to receive £150 million to restore community pride

A multi-million-pound package has been announced to support high streets, targeted in places most in need. More details on the High Streets Strategy, including how funding will be allocated to specific places, will be announced in the coming months, read more on the announcement and the plan here.  

Have you heard about the switch to digital landlines? 

Landlines are changing, and the UK’s telephone network is going digital by January 2027. If you have loved ones with additional needs such as elderly relatives or someone who uses a telecare device or pendant alarm, BT’s Connected Together initiative encourages you to take a few simple steps to support them through the switch. BT’s Connected Together website is where customers, can access all the guidance and support they need. Start the conversation today. – AD 

Thanks for reading. I really want to keep sharing information that is useful and relevant, so let me know how this format can be improved. A few of you requested a landing page with all the stories in one place so I’ve done that for you here.   Hope you have a lovely March! 

Warm wishes

Charmian