Derbyshire Neighbourhood Watch
Derbyshire Neighbourhood Watch
Thursday 1 October is International Day of Older Persons, and for Neighbourhood Watch groups across Derbyshire it is a useful reminder that looking out for our neighbours isn’t always about locks, alarms and reporting suspicious behaviour. Sometimes it starts with knowing who lives nearby and taking the time to say hello.
The United Nations marks International Day of Older Persons every year on 1 October, drawing attention to the contribution older people make to our communities as well as the challenges that can come with later life. The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1990 and has been observed internationally ever since.
For Derbyshire Neighbourhood Watch coordinators, it is also a good opportunity to think about the older people living within our own streets, villages and neighbourhoods.
Some will be surrounded by family, friends and busy social lives. Others may have lost a partner, stopped driving, developed health problems or simply find that they don’t see as many people as they once did.
You won’t necessarily know which is which from walking past someone’s front door.
And that’s where a good neighbourhood can make a difference.
Nobody is suggesting coordinators spend 1 October knocking on every door in their Watch area.
This can be much simpler.
Perhaps there is an older neighbour you haven’t seen for a while. Someone who lives alone who you usually bump into at the shops. Or a resident who used to come along to community events but hasn’t been around recently.
A quick hello, a phone call or stopping for a chat when you see them can be enough to keep that connection going.
Neighbourhood Watch Network specifically identifies coordinators as being well placed to help tackle loneliness because they already know their communities and can encourage neighbours to connect with one another. It also provides resources for Watches wanting to do more around loneliness and vulnerability.
International Day of Older Persons could also be an excuse to do something social.
It doesn’t have to involve hiring a hall and organising an elaborate event.
A coffee morning in a local café, an hour in the village hall, tea and biscuits in a community room or simply inviting residents to come along to an existing Watch meeting can all create an opportunity for people to meet.
Think particularly about people who might find attending something new daunting. Sometimes a personal invitation makes all the difference.
You could also ask another neighbour to come along with them, or make it clear that the event isn’t a formal meeting and people are welcome simply to pop in for a cup of tea.
The aim isn’t to single older residents out as vulnerable. Quite the opposite. Older people are often some of the most active and knowledgeable people in our communities, and International Day of Older Persons is also about recognising that contribution. The UN stresses the importance of older people’s voices being heard and their experience being valued.
There is another very practical reason for Neighbourhood Watch groups to get involved.
Fraudsters frequently target people through telephone calls, emails, texts and unexpected visitors at the door.
Neighbourhood Watch’s own guidance highlights how loneliness and isolation can increase vulnerability to scams, particularly where a criminal uses conversation or friendship to build a relationship with their target.
Coordinators could use 1 October to share a simple fraud reminder with their Watch.
It doesn’t need to frighten people or suggest that older residents are incapable of spotting a scam. A conversation about what people are currently seeing locally can be much more useful.
Has somebody had a suspicious call supposedly from their bank? Have residents received strange delivery texts? Has an unexpected trader been knocking on doors in the area?
Sharing that information can mean the next person recognises the warning signs.
Neighbourhood Watch advises people not to feel pressured by unexpected doorstep callers, to check identification independently and to avoid agreeing to work or purchases simply because somebody has appeared at the door.
You don’t have to do all of these. Pick whatever feels right for your Watch and the community you know.
One thing coordinators shouldn’t do is publicly identify people as vulnerable or circulate lists of residents who live alone. Looking out for people and respecting their privacy should always go together.
Most of the time, checking in simply means having a chat.
Occasionally, however, you might become concerned about someone’s wellbeing.
Derbyshire County Council has information about befriending services available through voluntary organisations across the county for people experiencing isolation because of old age, illness, disability or other circumstances. Befriending might involve regular conversations, meeting for coffee or having somebody accompany a person to a group or activity.
Derbyshire County Council – befriending services
There is also a difference between someone being lonely and someone potentially being at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
If you are worried that an adult with care and support needs may be experiencing abuse or neglect, Derbyshire County Council says you do not need proof before raising a safeguarding concern.
Members of the public can contact Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190, or 01629 532600 outside normal hours. If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999.
Derbyshire County Council – safeguarding adults
There is an important point here.
International Day of Older Persons shouldn’t only be about what we can do for older people.
Ask what older residents can bring to your Watch as well.
They may have lived in the area for decades and know more about the neighbourhood than almost anyone else. They may know which residents need a little extra help, remember what has worked locally in the past or simply have the time and enthusiasm to get involved.
Could somebody help welcome new neighbours? Join a Calling Tree? Help at a community event? Share local information? Or become more involved with the Watch itself?
A strong community isn’t divided into the people doing the helping and the people receiving it. Everyone has something to contribute.
If your Derbyshire Neighbourhood Watch is marking International Day of Older Persons, we’d love to hear about it.
Maybe you’re holding a coffee morning. Perhaps your coordinators are sharing scam advice, setting up a neighbourhood Calling Tree or simply encouraging everyone to check in with somebody they haven’t seen recently.
And if you’re sharing your activity on Facebook, tag Derbyshire Neighbourhood Watch in your post so we can see what Watches around the county are doing and share some of your stories.
You don’t need hundreds of people or a major event to make 1 October worthwhile.
Sometimes being a good neighbour really is as uncomplicated as noticing someone, saying hello and making sure they still feel part of the place they call home.
International Day of Older Persons is organised through the United Nations. International Day of Older Persons – United Nations
Neighbourhood Watch Network has dedicated guidance for coordinators on loneliness, vulnerability and supporting older neighbours. Neighbourhood Watch – loneliness and vulnerability
There is also practical guidance on dealing with unexpected callers. Neighbourhood Watch – doorstep scams
