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N.NH.W. |
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Board of Trustees announces closure of National Neighbourhood Watch Association
Embargoed until 2pm November 17, 2006
The Board of Trustees of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association (NNWA) has announced today that a shortfall in sponsorship funding for the coming year has left the organisation facing a financial deficit and therefore, with great reluctance, the decision has been taken to close the charity.
NNWA Chair, Roy Rudham issued the following statement:
“The past three years have been a difficult time for NNWA. It did appear, 12 months ago, that as a result of some stringent cost-saving measures, the NNWA had turned a corner.
“However for some time now, a small minority has been working behind the scenes, determined to undermine the work and functions of the NNWA.
“In December the NNWA launched a Review and Development Programme for 2006. The Board of Trustees had hoped that through a process of consultation and democratic discussion, the neighbourhood watch movement could move forward, united in a common goal of promoting active citizenship and community involvement.
“Regrettably the continued negative campaigning by a small group of dissidents has jeopardised NNWA’s ability to attract sufficient long-term sponsorship. The NNWA relies 100% on corporate sponsorship to fund its work. The shortfall in sponsorship funding for 2006 -7 and the adverse impact on cash flow means that, from April, NNWA will no longer be in a position to meet its financial liabilities.
“The hard lesson that neighbourhood watch at a national level needs to learn is that pursuing personal agendas, infighting and internal politics has to stop if neighbourhood watch wants to be seen as a credible movement and play its part in shaping and influencing future policy on important matters such as neighbourhood policing and community safety.”
At grassroots level, the work and commitment of neighbourhood watch volunteers will continue, and hopefully flourish. Three members of staff who work at the NNWA head office in Hatfield will be made redundant.
Notes to Editors
· National Neighbourhood Watch Association was formed in 1995 to promote and support neighbourhood watch throughout the UK. The NNWA employs a full-time Director of Development and two part-time office staff at its headquarters in Hatfield. According to the British Crime Survey some six million households in the UK are members of neighbourhood watch. There are an estimated 165,000 neighbourhood watch groups in the UK. Contact Roy Rudham |