Hold a meeting
One way to do this is to have an initial meeting. At the meeting you can discuss any issues that are common to the group, and make decisions based on the needs of the members. That way, people feel involved and engaged and are more likely to contribute to the success of the Watch.
You should try to arrange your meeting at a time and in a venue that is suitable and convenient for the majority of attendees. This is not always easy! You could try local community halls, church halls, police stations or fire stations to see if you can get the use of a room at a reasonable rate (or for free).
You may wish to contact the police or local authority to ask for a representative to be present at your meeting to answer any questions you may have.
Find what works for you
It may not always be possible or convenient to hold a meeting. In this case, you should find a way of communicating with your group that is most suited to their needs. This could be via an already established newsletter (e.g. Tenant & Residents Association, Housing Association), an online discussion forum, a Facebook page, WhatsApp group or a telephone tree/buddy system.
What should your group do?
Some questions to consider:
Some initial objectives for the group could include:
Once everyone knows why the group is there and what is expected of them as members, it will be easier to take things forward.
