Valley View Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) helped strengthen community ties by hosting a successful community Christmas barbecue in the lead up to the festive season.

Food stalls, a jumping castle, face painting and a visit from Santa were among the highlights of a day enjoyed by locals of all ages.

Valley View NHW were successful in their application for a NHW SA 40^th Anniversary Grant, which was used to fund the event.

The group demonstrated in its grant application that the Christmas barbecue would help strengthen community connections and promote neighbourhood safety in the area.

Research shows that neighbourhoods where residents are involved in community activities can have lower crime rates. For more information about the benefits of community connection, visit NHW.sa.gov.au.

Valley View Area Coordinator Jigar Patel said the event was a great showcase of community spirit, with nearly 200 people in attendance.

“Our aim was to celebrate the festive season while building stronger community connections and raising awareness about neighbourhood safety,” Jigar said.

“By bringing residents together in a relaxed, family-friendly setting, the event encouraged community members to build new relationships, trust and open communication between neighbours.”

“These social connections are vital for building a safer community, as neighbours who know and trust one another are more likely to look out for each other, share safety information and work together to prevent crime,” Jigar said.

The NHW 40^th anniversary grants were provided by South Australia Police (SAPOL) and the NHW Volunteers Association of South Australia Inc (VASA). It was initially agreed that SAPOL and VASA would each contribute $5,000 to the grants program. However, following an enthusiastic response and a total of 19 applications received, VASA generously increased the Board’s contribution to $10,000, bringing the total grant funds available to $15,000.