Your neighbourhood 

Neighbourhood Action Group guidance

Thames Valley Police has produced guidance for Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) members and chairpersons to aid them in their NAG work.

For advice on how to achieve an effective NAG, please view 'Effective Neighbourhood Action Groups: A Good Practice Briefing' (PDF 95 Kb - opens new window), which includes the recommended terms of reference / NAG constitution.

Focus on priorities

NAGs focus their work around three main priorities that have been identified by the local community.

A Neighbourhood Priority Profile (NPP) template is completed for each of the three main priorities. The NPP is a problem-solving template that allows NAG members to record and examine progress that is made on priorities.

View the Neighbourhood Priority Profile template (PDF 37 Kb - opens new window).

Read the Neighbourhood Priority Profile guidance notes (PDF 39 Kb - opens new window) for more information.

Websites

Some NAGs have set up their own website to update members and the public about their work. Thames Valley Police is not responsible for the content of external websites.

• Winnersh Neighbourhood Action Group website (opens new window).
• Haymill Neighbourhood Action Group website (opens new window).

Case studies

Click on a case study below to learn about how NAGs can function and what challenges they may face. The NAG case studies could provide you with ideas around your NAG’s priorities and projects.

Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley (Oxfordshire) case study (PDF 30 Kb - opens new window).

Chalfont St Peter (Buckinghamshire) case study (PDF 46 Kb - opens new window).

University and Redlands (Berkshire West) case study (PDF 31 Kb - opens new window).

Thatcham North and South NAG have made available the following documents:

'Thatcham NAG tackles underage drinking' - February 2009 (PDF 17 Kb - opens new window).

Alcohol questionnaire - West Berkshire Council Youth Service, Central Area Team (PDF 97 Kb - opens new window).

Alcohol poster - Thatcham Vision, and Thatcham Town Council (PDF 87 Kb - opens new window).

Newsletters

Each month, many NAGs produce a newsletter to keep neighbourhoods informed about what’s going on in their area. Thames Valley Police does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these newsletters.

Henley Rural newsletter (PDF 128 Kb - opens new window).

Redlands and University newsletter (PDF 135 Kb - opens new window).

Wallingford area newsletter (PDF 59 Kb - opens new window).

Windsor newsletter (PDF 530 Kb - opens new window).

Press releases

Writing a good press release allows NAGs to communicate their work to their neighbourhoods and members. A well-written press release will also give journalists a better understanding of the issues that your NAG is dealing with.

Five top tips on how to write a good press release:

1. Always give the story a headline – one that sums up what the story is about.
2. Place main facts in the first couple of paragraphs (think ‘who, what, where, why, when and how’).
3. Keep sentences short (ideally no longer than 21 words).
4. Always check your facts – including names, spellings, dates, times and venues.
5. Provide reliable contact details – including phone number and email address – for journalists to contact you.