Baroness Browning congratulates the Safety Net Associates Group and Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network for developing the first UK qualification for Community Advocates

22nd June 2011

The Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, Baroness Browning yesterday congratulated The Safety Net Associates Group and the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network for developing the first UK qualification for Community Advocates.

Lynn Farrar, Vice Chair and secretary of Neighbourhood Watch; Trevor Kennett, Group Chief Executive of the Safety Net Associates Group; Baroness Browning, Minister for Crime Prevention and ASB Reduction; Jim Maddan, National Chair of Neighbourhood Watch; Alfred Kennedy, Neighbourhood Watch Volunteer Representative for London.

Baroness Browning also presented National Chair Jim Maddan, with his certificate and congratulated the 14 volunteers who have become the UK’s first qualified Community Advocates.

The qualification which was developed in partnership between the Safety Net Associates Group and the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network is designed to address the skills needs of volunteers within community organisations, such as Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch, staff from public bodies who support them and any other charity or organisation that has to be an advocate. Across three areas learners will develop the knowledge and skills required to act as advocates for community organisations.

Launched as part of Neighbourhood Watch Week - 18th to 26th June 2011, the qualification is now open for full public enrolment further details can be found in the National Neighbourhood Watch Academy at http://www.cspacademy.ac.uk/National-Neighbourhood-Watch-Academy.htm

A key aim of this year’s Neighbourhood Watch Week, subtitled “Tweeting not Twitching”, is to encourage a new generation of volunteers to become involved in the organisation. This is supported by the new website www.ourwatch.org.uk, encouraging the use of social media and by providing formal and recognised professionalisation via an accredited qualification that previously did not exist.

The qualification is a tangible example of how private and third sector organisations are working together to deliver the Big Society.

Baroness Browning, Minister for Crime Prevention and ASB Reduction presenting Jim Maddan, National Chair of Neighbourhood Watch with his certificate.

Minister for Crime Prevention and Antisocial Behaviour Reduction Baroness Browning said:

“Neighbourhood Watch is a great example of how communities can come together to help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour and make our streets safer.

“But it’s important we keep this movement alive by encouraging new and more diverse membership, as well as embracing new and different ways of communicating.”

Jim Maddan, Chair of the National Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network said:

“This exciting new initiative will provide a valuable resource for neighbourhood watch members who are interested in developing their personal skills."

"The Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network is indebted to Safety Net Associates for their support in developing the programme and I look forward to further collaboration between our two organisations”

Trevor Kennett, Chief Executive of the Safety Net Associates Group said:

"We are proud to have been given the opportunity to develop and deliver the new BTEC qualification in partnership with the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network."

"We are confident that this new qualification will not only benefit the existing membership but also provide an added incentive and enabling tool for people to get involved with Community Organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch. This in turn can only benefit the communities which we are all a part of."

To find out more about the new qualification please visit http://www.cspacademy.ac.uk/National-Neighbourhood-Watch-Academy.htm, email learning@cspacademy.ac.uk or call 0845 299 7144.