Neighbourhood Watch 40th Anniversary Grant Recipients Announced

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) and the Volunteer Association of South Australia Inc. (VASA) are proud to announce the recipients of the 40^th anniversary grants. These grants were established to commemorate the four decades NHW members have dedicated to building safer, more connected communities.

It was initially agreed that SAPOL NHW and VASA would each contribute $5,000 to the grants program. However, following an enthusiastic response and a total of 19 applications received, VASA has generously increased the Board’s contribution to $10,000, bringing the total grant funds available to $15,000.

The selection panel was very impressed with the high calibre of the applications.

We extend our warmest congratulations to the successful grant recipients and sincerely thank all who applied for their dedication to community safety. Your commitment plays a vital role in shaping the future of Neighbourhood Watch for the next 40 years and beyond. The funded grants are listed below, along with a brief description of each project.

Successful Grant Projects

Valley View – Community Christmas barbecue

Valley View NHW Area identified that new families and older community members in the area had limited opportunities to meet their neighbours and engage in local initiatives to create connections. They will hold a barbecue with stalls and activities to create a welcoming space where people can connect, build trust, and learn how they can contribute to a safer, more supportive community. Valley View NHW Area will promote community safety messages, distribute information about crime prevention, and encourage greater participation in the NHW program.

Williamstown - Safe and Connected community project

Willamstown NHW Area has identified a rise in minor property crimes such as theft and vandalism and wants to respond to the community’s desire for stronger crime prevention measures. They will hold a community barbecue with a SAPOL representative giving a presentation on cyber safety and will provide a mobile engraving service for bikes and personal items.

Kingston SE – Number safety project

Kingston SE NHW Area has identified that emergency services find it difficult to see house numbers that aren’t clearly marked, which can put lives in danger during an emergency. They will purchase cans of reflective paint to stencil house numbers on curbs. The group members will undertake the stencilling and, while doing so, will speak to residents about home safety issues including keeping their yards clear so intruders can’t easily hide in them.

Sefton Park – Personal safety alarms

Sefton Park NHW Area wants to create a greater sense of personal safety within its community in a tangible way. It will give away 50 personal safety alarms to individuals who express vulnerability about their personal safety when visiting the NHW stall at the Prospect Spring Fair.

Woodcroft – Carols in the park

Woodcroft NHW Area will hold a Carols in the Park event to build connections between local families, businesses and community groups. The event will include food and drink stalls, raffles, lucky dips, NHW giveaways, a barbecue, an ice cream truck, a coffee van, farm animals, a face painter and jumping castles. The event will provide a safe environment for families, neighbours and residents to connect, and connected communities tend to have less crime.

Golden Grove/Wynn Vale/ Greenwith | Modbury Heights West | Para Hills | Redwood Park – Video doorbells for vulnerable residents

Four Northern District NHW Areas identified that there are vulnerable people in their local communities who are at greater risk of crime and feel unsafe in their homes. The groups will purchase and provide video doorbells to community members identified by SAPOL as being vulnerable to reduce the likelihood of these individuals being victims of crime.

Goolwa – Be bright - be safe - be smart

Goolwa NHW Area has identified that Hills Fleurieu has the highest number of road fatalities of all SAPOL Local Service Areas and that the high number of elderly gopher users and bike riders in the area are vulnerable to road accidents. To address this risk, the group will purchase high visibility vests for gopher riders and school children. Additionally, bike helmets will be distributed to children and adults who don’t have the funds to purchase them. The vests will increase visibility on the roads, reducing the likelihood of gopher riders and children being involved in road accidents. The helmets will reduce or prevent head injuries if a bike rider is involved in a road accident.