From Philip Virgo as Development Lead for Neighbourhood Watch in Lambeth

To Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators, Volunteers and Partners

This is to remind most of you of the meeting to discuss the plans to start an Association to support Neighbourhood Watch in Lambeth on 31st  March. 14.00 – 16.00 at We Are 336, 336 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA and to update the agenda items. I have also added some of those interested in specific areas not currently covered by the plans

NHW group convenors will be invited to vote on the formation and stand for office after this discussion meeting to review plans, including updates since the previous notice to add discussion on:

• Formation of a Befriending subgroup to work with the new Lambeth Integrated Care Network to link NHW support for vulnerable neighbours via Street/Estate group to their aspirations to rebuild local contact and community transport services.
• Formation of a Business Watch subgroup to work with London Cyber Resilience Centre, Report Fraud, the Lambeth Business Improvement Districts and others to organise local  online safety, security and counter fraud support for SMBs and charities.

The aim remains to have the Association in place by the end of April and operational by end May with a programme of launches during the National Volunteers  / Neighbourhood Watch Week culminating with the Big Lunch.   

That will entail agreeing an interim leadership team, constitution, Memorandum of Association , and Framework for Local Police Neighbourhood Watch Liaison and local processes for information sharing and co-operation, including via the Neighbourhood Alert system used by both NHW and  Met Engage.

The draft agenda for the meeting on 31st March is now:

• Introductions – we expect a mix of current and would-be co-ordinators, volunteers,  advisors and potential partners.
• Discussion of objectives, priorities and strategies within nationally agreed models and frameworks for co-operation, partnership and sponsorship (see attachments for links)
• Identification of volunteers for the interim leadership team to replace the current development team when formation of the “Association” is put to the vote 
• Review of draft website content (not yet formatted see attachment for possible updated wording as at 31/3/2026) and identification of volunteers to assist/monitor development, working with police, council and others.
• Identification of volunteers for sub-group to exploit the offer of a Lambeth NHW  imabi community channel focussed initially on reducing the risk of violence against women and girls  and use of Travel Guardian to improve safety on the journey to/from school and work.
• Identification of volunteers to help organise a round table to discuss schools, youth engagement and parental support and guidance including, but not limited to, on-line safeguarding and safety materials and training , the UK Safer Internet Centre .
• Identification of volunteers for sub-groups on befriending and SMB support
• Discussion of whether to add Speed Watch, Cycle and other groups and do a notice to all participants notifying them of plans and inviting them to update their areas of interest.