Neighbourhood Watch

What Neighbourhood Watch does

Neighbourhood Watch Network is the largest volunteer-led crime prevention charity in England and Wales, operating as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO, charity number 1173349) headquartered in London at Vox Studios, 1-45 Durham Street. Founded in 1982, the organisation coordinates a grassroots movement of more than 65,000 active volunteers organised through Force Area, Borough, and District associations, reaching over 2.3 million households. Its functional remit covers crime prevention advice across 20+ crime types — burglary, cybercrime, antisocial behaviour, fraud, knife crime, domestic abuse, terrorism, and heritage crime — alongside newer mandates around loneliness reduction and community resilience under its 2030 strategy.

The platform-plus-programmes architecture comprises: (i) the Neighbourhood Watch Register (data processing handled by VISAV Limited) and the Neighbourhood Alert email communication system; (ii) the Knowledge Hub member intranet (managed by MyHub Intranet Solutions); (iii) the Shopify-powered e-commerce shop; (iv) Cyberhood Watch, a cybersecurity initiative delivered in partnership with Avast; (v) training programmes including Neighbourhood Safety Training and Communities That Care fraud workshops; (vi) crime prevention toolkits and frameworks such as the 5Ds Intervention Framework; and (vii) supporting programmes including the Community Grants Fund, Youth Council, Podcast, and a £10M public liability insurance scheme arranged with RSA Insurance Group. Distribution is principally digital (website, Neighbourhood Alert, social media across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) supplemented by webinars, Communi-Tea community events, and a volunteer-led local coordinator network.

The business model is charity-funded rather than commercial: core membership is free, with revenue drawn from individual donations, corporate partnerships (Avast, ERA, SimpliSafe, BT, E.ON Next, Co-op Insurance), merchandise sales, lottery fundraising via One Lottery, and Easyfundraising affiliate referral. Customer segments span the general public (primary), police and law enforcement, older adults (cyber fraud risk), young people and students, and volunteer coordinators. GTM is community-led and partnership-amplified rather than sales-driven, relying on local coordinators, statutory and voluntary sector partnerships, and digital self-serve membership via postcode lookup.

Name

Neighbourhood Watch

Legal name

Neighbourhood Watch Network

Website

https://ourwatch.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Neighbourhood Watch Network is a UK charity operating the largest volunteer-led crime prevention movement in England and Wales, coordinating 65,000+ volunteers to reach 2.3 million households with crime prevention, cybersecurity, and community safety programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Crime Prevention Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Investigation and Security Services (5616), Security Guards and Patrol Services (561612), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential & Community Guarding (HOAs, Gated Communities) (BPAKAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crime Prevention & Community Policing Programs (EDALAEAG), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community crime prevention
• Volunteer-led safety
• Neighbourhood watch schemes
• Crime prevention charity
• Community safety programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support its charitable mission of crime prevention and community safety.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling Neighbourhood Watch merchandise, security products from partners (ERA alarms), and related items through Shopify storefront.
3. Lottery and Fundraising: Partnership with One Lottery for fundraising. Easyfundraising integration allows supporters to raise money while shopping online with over 2,700 retailers.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporate sponsors including Avast (cybersecurity), ERA (home security), SimpliSafe (home security), and others who provide funding, products, or services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Neighbourhood Watch Network is the largest volunteer-led crime prevention charity in England and Wales, operating a free national membership program that connects local residents, volunteer coordinators, and police partners through a national network. It delivers crime prevention advice and toolkits across 20+ crime types, training programs, an alert and communications platform, and community engagement initiatives across three strategic pillars: Neighbourhood Watch (crime prevention), Neighbourhood Connect (reducing loneliness), and Neighbourhood Act (practical community activities).

Product overview

Neighbourhood Watch Network is the largest volunteer-led crime prevention charity in England and Wales, operating as a grass-roots movement that connects local communities with crime prevention resources and police. The organisation functions as a platform-plus-programs model: the core infrastructure includes the national network coordination, Neighbourhood Watch Register (processed via VISAV), and the Knowledge Hub (processed via MyHub). These are complemented by distinct programs including Cyberhood Watch (cybersecurity partnership with Avast), Neighbourhood Safety Training, andCommunities That Care fraud prevention workshops. Additional offerings encompass Public Liability Insurance for volunteers, the Community Grants Fund, Crime Prevention Toolkits covering 20+ crime types, the Neighbourhood Watch Podcast, and Youth Council initiatives. Communication with 2.3 million households occurs via the Neighbourhood Alert system, with an online shop powered by Shopify.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cyberhood Watch: A cybersecurity initiative launched in partnership with Avast to help members and communities keep their digital lives safe and secure through resources, information, and practical advice.

Products and services

• Cyberhood Watch A cybersecurity initiative delivered in partnership with Avast that provides training, accreditation courses, downloadable guides, local events, and ongoing threat intelligence to help Neighbourhood Watch members protect themselves from online threats. Targeted at members concerned about cybercrime, including older adults and young people.
• Knowledge Hub An online intranet platform (managed by MyHub Intranet Solutions Limited) providing crime prevention resources, toolkits, training materials, and community information for Neighbourhood Watch coordinators and members across England and Wales.
• Neighbourhood Safety Training
• Crime Prevention Toolkits
• Public Liability Insurance for volunteers
• Communities That Care Workshops
• Neighbourhood Watch Podcast
• Neighbourhood Watch Lottery
• Community Grants Fund
• Youth Council
• Crime Map

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 65,000 active volunteers making a difference to communities
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and historical.

• AvastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2019Cyberhood Watch partnership launched November 2019. Avast, a global cybersecurity leader, provides training, accreditation courses, resources, and ongoing threat intelligence to help Neighbourhood Watch members protect themselves from cybercrime. Research conducted with 14,000+ members found that over a third of members are more concerned about cybercrime than physical crime.
• ERA (Response Electronics)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerERA provides home security products including alarm systems. They have offered exclusive discounts to Neighbourhood Watch members (e.g., 50% off ERA Valiant alarm kit). Partnership includes product discounts and joint marketing.
• SimpliSafesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerHome security company partnered with Neighbourhood Watch, offering security products to members.
• Action FraudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational fraud and cybercrime reporting centre run by City of London Police. Neighbourhood Watch promotes Action Fraud reporting and incorporates their data and resources into fraud prevention campaigns.
• CrimestopperscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing anonymous crime reporting service. Complements Neighbourhood Watch by giving public a way to report crime anonymously. Featured on BBC Radio 4 Appeal.
• VISAV LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationData processor managing the Neighbourhood Watch Register on behalf of the organization. Processes member data entered through the website.
• BT / Digital VoicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOur Digital Voice Project with BT aims to support communities, particularly in Wales and various regions of England, with digital inclusion and connectivity initiatives.
• EasyfundraisingsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharity fundraising portal allowing supporters to raise money for Neighbourhood Watch while shopping online with 2,700+ retailers. Donations are made at no extra cost to shoppers.
• One LotterysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLottery partner enabling supporters to participate in fundraising for Neighbourhood Watch Network.
• Suzy Lamplugh TrustsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPersonal safety charity. Partnered for webinars on stalking and female personal safety.
• Her CentresecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's advice and advocacy service. Hosted webinar on ending violence against women and girls.
• Re-engagesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supporting lonely older people. Partnered on webinar about isolation and loneliness in scams.
• Historic EnglandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment heritage body. Partnered for webinar on heritage crime.
• Anti-Slavery InternationalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's oldest human rights organisation. Partnered for webinar on human trafficking and modern slavery.
• National Centre for Domestic ViolencesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for webinar on domestic violence and abuse.
• Women's AidsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation of domestic abuse services. Neighbourhood Watch supported their appeal for funding during COVID-19 pandemic.
• National Trading Standards Scams TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body fighting doorstep crime and scams. Provided scam awareness training and resources for volunteers.
• Access Insurance ServicescoreOthersCharity specialist Chartered Broker that arranged public liability insurance (Limit of Indemnity £10,000,000 per claim) for Neighbourhood Watch volunteers with RSA Insurance Group plc.
• RSA Insurance Group plccoreOthersInsurer providing public liability, products liability, and employer's liability insurance coverage for recognised schemes and volunteers.
• Counter Terrorism PolicingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbourhood Watch Network supports counter-terrorism efforts and has launched a crime prevention toolkit specifically aimed at tackling terrorism. Communities Defeat Terrorism campaign backed by NW.
• Co-op InsurancehistoricalGTM or Marketing PartnerHistorical sponsor that conducted research on bicycle theft and home security with Neighbourhood Watch.
• E.ON NextsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy company providing advice and support as a corporate partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Action Fraud: National fraud and cybercrime reporting centre run by City of London Police; a direct peer in fraud prevention reporting and a stated NWN strategic partner.
• Women's Aid: Federation of domestic abuse services; comparable as a national domestic violence charity partnered with NWN for community-based prevention work.
• Suzy Lamplugh Trust: UK personal safety charity; directly comparable as a personal safety and stalking-awareness charity that partners with NWN for joint webinars.
• Victim Support: Independent UK charity providing support to victims of crime; comparable as a national, police/ statutory-partnered community safety charity addressing crime-related harm.
• Crimestoppers: UK charity operating an anonymous crime reporting service; a direct peer as a national, volunteer/police-partnered crime prevention charity serving the general public across the UK.
• Re-engage: UK charity tackling loneliness and social isolation among older people; comparable as a community-volunteer charity partnered with NWN on scam-related loneliness work.

Emerging players

• Nextdoor: Digital neighbourhood social network; an emerging digital-native competitor to NWN's local communication role, offering faster peer-to-peer alerts without the charity/crime-prevention overlay.

Broad incumbents

• Age UK: Large national charity focused on older people; comparable to NWN's older-adult focus on loneliness, scams and isolation but operating at much greater scale across broader services.
• Citizens Advice: National advice charity providing community-level guidance on consumer, legal and safety issues; comparable as a trusted, community-embedded UK advisory organisation with statutory and volunteer components.

Regional players

• Community Safety Partnerships (UK local authorities): Statutory local authority partnerships responsible for crime reduction strategy at council level; comparable as public-sector bodies delivering community crime-prevention coordination alongside NWN's volunteer network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NHWNetwork
• Xtwitter.com/NWNetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/nwnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neighbourhood-watch-network
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NWNetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Neighbourhood Watch