Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network. (England & Wales)

Transcription

1 Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (England & Wales) Minutes of Advisory Group Meeting Highpoint Conference Centre, 165 Glenfield Road, Leicester, LE3 6DP 11 th October :00-15:00 1. Welcome and Introductions (JM) Present: Jim Maddan (JM) Chair, Alastair McCrindle (AM) Treasurer, Ron Taylor (RT) Trustee, Marion Lewis (ML) East Midlands, Kate Daisley (KD) Operations Director, Sunny Gill (SG) Development Manager, John Hallows (JH) Yorkshire and Humberside, Alf Kennedy (AK) London, Lizzie Clarke (LC) West Midlands, Julie Dowton (JD) South West, Dr John Perkins (JP) Trustee, Colleen Atkins (CA) East of England, Mark Edgington (ME) ACPO, Maureen Brewer (MB) Yorkshire and Humberside Deputy, Colin Clarke (CC) West Midlands Website Administrator, Alan Johnson (AJ) East of England Secretary, Val McPherson (VMc) South East Deputy, Wendy Hull (WH) South West Deputy, Sam Millward-Gibbons (SMG) North East Junior NHW Representative, George Osborne (GO) North East Single Point of Contact (SPOC), Catherine Dunn (CD) Information and Database Manager, Ian Fearnley (IF) East Midlands Deputy. 2. Apologies (JM) Julie Goodfellow (Wales), Janet Gould (North West), Lynn Farrar (Vice Chair), Chris Joyce (CJ) Yorkshire and Humberside Single Point of Contact, Elaine Ryan (ER) South West SPOC, Hilary Doyle (HD) Wales Deputy, Margaret Filley (MF) South East, Paul Morgan (PM) South West Police Representative, Beverly Rounds (BR) West Midlands Police Representative. 3. Minutes of last meeting (JM) Alteration to point 1 - Lizzie Clarke (LZ) amended to Lizzie Clarke (LC), point 3 AJ referred to Alan Johnson (East of England Regional Secretary). Minutes from the previous meeting were accepted as a true record, with amendments. 4. Matters Arising (JM) Action 7 carried forward for Julie Goodfellow to investigate the use of university students to develop specific project work identified in the NHWN action plan. Action 6.4 carried forward for AK to establish a protocol for funding to regions in line with company guidelines, based on previous work carried out in relation to the London Neighbourhood Watch Association. Action 10.6 carried forward for Margaret Filley to provide feedback around student volunteering programme.

2 Action 12.6 carried forward for CD to produce monthly / quarterly reports detailing numbers of members registered on the Our Watch website. 5. Chairs Report (JM) 5.1 JM reviewed the progress, achievements and challenges for the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network over the past 12 months. 5.2 Review included work with partners, staff and regions, the development of the NHWN business plan, the financial stability of the organisation and the way forward. Please see appendix A to read the full Chairs Report. 5.3 CA requested more information about the role of the directors and process involved in appointment. KD clarified that a new process in line with company law is being followed, since incorporation, and that additional directors can be co-opted onto the Board based on the needs of the company. The company AGM is anticipated to take place in October ACTION KD to circulate the role of directors to regional representatives 6. Treasurers Report (AM) 6.1 AM had produced the NHWN accounts for period-end 30 th September 2011 (attached), including actual and projected figures. 6.2 Over the past six months, had been received from the Home Office grant, from sponsors, form additional grants and 10 in bank interest. It was agreed that NHWN should now focus of the accumulation of funds to help support the network and plan ahead. 6.3 ML asked whether there had been any successful grant applications submitted by Action Planning on behalf of NHWN. KD informed the group that a bid submitted to the Big Lottery focusing on community engagement had successfully reached the second phase of application and was due to be submitted on 5 th December Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Update (ME) 7.1 Due to the large increase in metal theft over the last 12 months, ME suggested that NHWN should more of an active role in informing members and possibly working in partnership with other groups to raise the profile of this type of crime. 7.2 ACPO had started working with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to address rural crime, and the Women s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) to look at potential volunteering opportunities to support older and vulnerable people. 7.3 ME informed the group that ACPO was currently organising a number of national road shows which would be offered to all force areas (and additional organisations) to develop volunteering and community activism opportunities. ME confirmed that the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) would be supporting the project by providing necessary resources and funding. 7.2 AJ asked ACPOs position following the recent riots. ME replied that there had been a very positive response from the community, and a number of volunteers had come forward to assist with the clean-up operation. ML added that the use of the communication system had also

3 helped keep members up to date. JM confirmed that a full report detailing information about those involved in the riots would be issued by the Home Office on 24 th October Update on current delivery of key actions and challenges for the Network (KD) 8.1 KD discussed some of the highlights and milestones achieved by NHWN over the past 12 months, including, the roll out of the Vocationally Recognised Qualification (VRQ) for community advocates, the support from the Minister and Baroness Browning during Neighbourhood and Home Watch Week, the nomination and award from Nominet Trust for the Our Watch website, and our success in securing sponsorship to support the Our Watch newsletter and window stickers. 8.2 Following the launch of the Our Watch website ( earlier this year, KD informed the group that a review of the website and online resources was planned for March Currently members had registered with Neighbourhood Alert, members had signed upto Twitter and 120 to Facebook, to the e-newsletter, with an additional unique visitors to the Our Watch site since March KD also mentioned a number of other projects currently underway, including website development, marketing and PR, links with Baroness Newlove, support for the ACPO road shows, Police training and conferences via the NPIA, the roll out of further website and Neighbourhood Alert training, the development of National NHW Week 2012, and the development of a support package around the Police Crime Commissioners (PCCs). 8.4 KD informed the group that the network was also actively involved with a number of partnership projects, including Secured by Design, Water UK, Catch 22, Victim Support, and the Tesco Charity Trust. 8.5 KD mentioned that NHWN still faced a number of challenges moving forward, and that it was important to prioritise actions at both a national and regional level. 9. Group Discussions on Identifying Priorities for 2012/2013 (KD) 9.1 In order to review the challenges faced by the organisation, representatives were asked to split into groups and discuss current issues. Please see appendix B for the main points discussed by each group collectively. 9.2 Following group discussions, two key priorities for the organisation were identified: Marketing and Publicity o To use the existing standfirst from the Design Council project which should be adopted at all levels within the movement where relevant. o NHWN to focus on raising the profile at a national level, and for regions and counties to share good practice so we can shout more, and shout louder about the benefits and outcomes which the movement achieves. Sustainability and Governance o To identify opportunities and what is needed to strengthen the sustainability and governance at a national, regional and county level. This includes investing and recruiting in more volunteers and community activists to undertake various roles, to ensure sustainability at all levels.

4 9.3 Each group was asked to discuss how each priority could be delivered both nationally and regionally. Please see appendix B for the collective discussions held by each group. 10. Date, Time and Location of Next Meeting (KD) 10.1 Next Advisory Group meeting was due to be held on 13 th December. Location to be confirmed. Meeting Close: 15:05

5 Appendix A Chairman s Report 2011 The past twelve months have been very challenging and yet in some ways very rewarding. Personnel issues : We have been very fortunate to retain our three members of staff and they have all without exception served the organisation enthusiastically and gone the extra mile. We have taken on board an apprentice who works 30 hours a week. He has been a godsend, and we will face some difficult decisions when he reaches 19 years of age. The Home Office : At the end of the day the Home Office are our paymasters and we have regular grant monitoring meetings, but we have experienced significant changes in personnel, which make developing cohesive relationships very difficult. No one seems to be there more than a few weeks and this is very challenging. From a ministerial perspective, it has been the same. At the beginning of the year we had meetings with James Brokenshire MP, Minister for Crime Prevention, in the spring he was replaced by Baroness Angela Browning, and a few weeks ago she was replaced by Lord Henley. Police Support : Since the retirement of CC Frank Whiteley in April and the consequent loss of Mark Custerson, we have had several meetings with DCC Rob Beckley, his replacement as ACPO lead on a number of topics which includes neighbourhood watch, and we are grateful for the support of Mark Edgington and Ray Hulin, who share his staff officer responsibilities. We have also developed working relationships with the Police Service Volunteers, the NPIA, Secured by Design from a crime prevention perspective and the LGA particularly in the area of CSPs. Business Plan : We have had to keep one eye on our Business Plan throughout the year. The originally agreed Business Plan is the basis on which the Home Office measure our achievements and ensure that our grant funding is properly accounted for. This has placed additional burdens on the staff and board of directors, and the board are very keen to increase the number of volunteers who are prepared to take on additional pieces of work which will ease the burden on the remaining personnel. On the advice of the NCVO and included in our business plan, was a recommendation what we become a company limited by guarantee. This has now been done and hence the new style of annual meeting. At the present time we have five directors, but there is no restriction on the number of directors who can be appointed. If we had more directors we

6 could share the work out more equitably. We will be looking to co-opt directors to look after specific projects. Independent financial stability : If we are going to remove the shackles that bind us to the Home Office, we need to become independent financially. We have already secured funding from NSI who sponsor our newsletter, and more recently corporate sponsorship with Towergate Insurance. Towergate have been excellent partners and their sponsorship of the window stickers is a case in point, but we need to find a source of funding to maintain our core business and without that we will never become independent. If we are to become independent of the Home Office financially, we believe that we should have control over our branding and the neighbourhood watch logos of the yellow and black roundel and the red and black triangle. Partnerships : We continue to work closely with Mike Douglas & VisaV on the Neighbourhood Alert and communications in general, Dennis and Stephen from ABC have also given us valuable support. The VRQ for Community Advocates has been well received and we will continue working with the Safety Net Associates Group. Our work with the Alzheimer s group, Neighbourhood Return, continues, as does our relationship with Age UK and Catch 22. We will be working alongside The Big Lunch in the run up to the Diamond Jubilee which coincides with our own Pearl (30 th ) Anniversary. We are a part of a working group looking at tackling Distraction Burglary alongside Operation Liberal and Water UK. We have regular meetings with Crimestoppers & Victim Support and we are keen to develop our relationship with the wider watch movement. We are developing a working relationship with BT and Network Rail looking at metal thefts, which in some areas is the fastest growing area of crime. Communications : The essence of an organisation such as ours is successful communications. It is important that we can circulate information to as many people as possible, and that where necessary we get feedback from the membership. After much toing and froing the then Minister, Baroness Angela Browning launched our new website on 21 st June 2011 during Neighbourhood Watch Week. We had been ready to go in March and April but delays at the Home Office prevented this happening. It was very frustrating but a big thanks to all at the Design Council and elsewhere who worked tirelessly to get us where we are today. The website was nominated for an award in July and we came second, an achievement for which we can be genuinely proud. We are working with the Home Office to overlay their crime mapping facility with the location of neighbourhood watch schemes. I am convinced that this will be further evidence that neighbourhood watch works.

7 It is a very time consuming business to populate the new website and keep it update to date but thanks to all involved in this aspect of our work. Work in the Regions : The essence of neighbourhood watch is the infinite variety of schemes throughout England and Wales. This makes it very difficult (and unacceptable) to lay down strict guidelines for watches, associations and regions, on how they are administered. Life would be so much easier if we could say you WILL do it this way or that way, but neighbourhood watch is not like that and I am grateful for that and will continue to support that approach. This in itself leads to problems not only in the counties but also for the staff. They have to learn more than 150,000 ways of doing things. I would like to develop more responsibility within the regions, helping them to set up properly constituted associations, with SLAs and a range of policies which would help them with issues. I would also like to see some paid help within the regions. Staff who would know their region, funded by the local community and take on some of the day to day queries that at the moment have to be fielded by the office staff. Other matters : Neighbourhood Watch is a worldwide movement. Those who subscribe to Google Alerts will know that it flourishes in many parts of the world, although I am not sure that neighbourhood watch in Cairo and Tripoli conforms to our idea of what the movement is all about. It is less developed in Europe but we have received a visit from Karl and Daniella from Vienna, and we are expecting another visit from Denmark next month. There is evidence that Neighbourhood Watch is starting in Bologna in Italy and Nice in France. In France they are suspicious of what they call Denouncement. We have another challenging year ahead. The financial situation is unlikely to get any easier, but we are solvent as you will hear from the Finance Director. The Police and Crime Commissioners legislation passed on to the statute books at the end of September and we can look forward to election on November 15 th next year. There is a lot to get done and we need your help, both at the centre and in the regions, particularly if we are to develop a consistent approach, without being over specific. The grassroots are the life blood of the movement and we need them more than ever.

8 Appendix B Group Discussions on Identifying Priorities for 2012/2013 County Priorities Ownership of Neighbourhood and Home Watch data by Neighbourhood and Home Watch members More support for volunteers in Local Policing Units Governance issues Public perception (self-promotion, simple messages, raising the profile) Relationship and communication between Neighbourhood Watch and Police Getting the buy in from Community Activists to extend the work of the Network on all levels Financial sustainability, funding opportunities and support Marketing and publicity (including availability of leaflets, booklets, signs etc.) Recruitment of new members Local verification process clarified Regional Priorities Two way communication at all levels Governance Differing levels of engagement between counties and partner organisations Improving the strength of the regional voice Sharing best practice Working with the wider watch movement Working with new partners Additional support linking national and local communication systems Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) support and guidance for regions Youth engagement Delivering Priority 1: Marketing and PR Embed Design Council corporate message Stand first for all to use Sponsored Neighbourhood and Home Watch leaflet (physical) Make it more obvious as to What s in it for me? More materials / items available to promote single key message Template on how to sell NHW to other partners Online and face to face presence with members and partners Peer visiting and linking like-minded schemes Identify weak links in communication through a review process Use existing volunteer skills and community links to engage other organisations Include wider watches Focus marketing at county, regional and national level Coordinators handbook Delivering Priority 2: Sustainability and Governance Encourage members to use existing facilities Agreed terms and conditions, and service level agreements available for all

9 PCSO / Police training National guidance and templates Best practice and how to deal with governance issues Problem solving panels More guidance on funding