*

Now that you’ve started your NW scheme, there are many ways in which to run it, depending upon the concerns and needs of your neighbours and community. At a basic level, getting to know your neighbours, being neighbourly and looking out for one another brings immediate benefits and feelings of community cohesion. Simple actions like keeping an eye on property whilst a neighbour is away, taking in parcels for neighbours, looking after pets and checking on vulnerable neighbours are typical. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many NW schemes developed support activities for neighbours who were self-isolating by doing shopping for essential items and collecting prescriptions etc.

A NW scheme need only take an hour a week to pass on messages received through the Alert system, but if you are keen to develop your scheme, or wish to address specific issues in your neighbourhood, see below for ideas. Developing a good relationship with your local community policing team will assist with some of these initiatives.