This website is an online space where we (VANEL) coordinate support for neighbour and resident led groups across North East Lincolnshire (NEL). This includes Neighbourhood Watch.
The website is run by VANEL (Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire), a Cleethorpes based charity which leads on the Neighbourhood Networking Programme for North East Lincolnshire. VANEL also hosts the area administration for Neighbourhood Watch across NEL (currently Karl Elliott).
Our Neighbourhood Networking Programme is an ongoing programme, but currently has significant funding from the National Lottery Community Fund specifically to support neighbours across rural NEL.
But this website combines other information and support for a number of partners and funders working together. We include support from: Capacity Buildings Ltd (a local Social Enterprise) and the KOPS (Keeping Older People Safe) initiative for example. We’re also working with (and part funded by the NEL CSP).
If you’re on this site and not in North East Lincolnshire then you can find out about Neighbourhood Watch and community safety related support across other parts of Humberside via the Humberwatch website just here (covers Hull, East Riding, North Lincs as well as us in NEL). And nationally, OurWatch is your source of UK wide information.
Local projects and programmes focusing on community safety and neighbourliness have been also variously funded by the office of the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner; the North East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership; Safer Streets and others such as local Ward Councillors..
We use this website to combine and share the programmes that VANEL are closely connected to.
note: page currently being reviewed and updated Aug26
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In North East Lincolnshire VANEL is also lead for supporting Neighbourhood Watch. Neighbourhood Watch is governed nationally through the national network – OurWatch – but Karl Elliott at VANEL is the local representative for Neighbourhood Watch for North East Lincolnshire.
Other programmes that are currently active include Allotment Watch and Keeping Older People Safe.
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Neighbourhood Watch is about neighbours watching out for each other.
When it comes to increasing community safety, Neighbourhood Watch is one of the most successful initiatives known. It is exactly what is says – neighbours watching out for themselves and each other.
Across North East Lincolnshire there are 50+ Neighbourhood Watch Groups. Each has a Coordinator who acts as a point of contact and then membership of each group is drawn from the local streets and local residents. Each Group covers an area that it is comfortable with.
To ensure that all of these Groups are connected, supported and not ‘on their own’, the North East Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Networking programme run by local charity VANEL, acts as a central coordination body to help support all the Groups and Coordinators.
But our support extends to other forms of Neighbourhood and resident led groups too – not just Neighbourhood Watch. So “Friends of” groups, ward forums, and simple resident networks can also get support.
Karl Elliot, Development Manager at VANEL, manages the Neighbourhood Networking programme for North East Lincolnshire and is the area administrator for all Neighbourhood Watch in the borough. Get in touch here.
The Network provides resources to groups – such as news and information, Police updates, regularly meetings, one-to-one advice, training, and most recently a private, online discussion space for coordinators and members to get support.
Nationally all Neighbourhood Watch Groups are supported through the OurWatch organisation, and more locally, the HumberWatch initiative started by the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner exists to try and support Networks across the whole of the Humber sub-region.
Our Network is the first point of contact for setting up new groups too.
So, if you’re already part of a Group or a Coordinator then we’re here for you. If you’re thinking of starting up or joining a Group then we can help. Or if you simply want to learn about Neighbourhood Watch groups then you’re in the right place.
Please explore the website and get in touch as appropriate.