2024

Member Support and Engagement

While 2024 saw the Neighbourhood Network (NN) continue to expand its delivery through new and evolving projects, the charity remained firmly committed to supporting its member groups across Hull and the wider region. Membership continued to grow, with 8 new groups joining the network, including 4 Neighbourhood Watch groups spanning across 4 of our city wards, alongside a charity, sports club, community group and residents association.

Throughout the year, tailored 1-2-1 support remained a key part of the NN offer with a total of 58 direct support requests recorded from member groups, alongside 63 enquiries from local residents seeking advice and support outside of specific NN projects. Support ranged from funding guidance and community communication systems to crime prevention advice and governance support.

The NN continued to amplify the voices of its members, with 22 member stories featured in the fortnightly newsletter and many more shared across social media platforms, helping to raise awareness and strengthen community connections.

Practical support remained central to delivery, with 280 Neighbourhood Watch window stickers distributed, 10 new street signs installed and 1,985 community newsletters designed and disseminated on behalf of local groups.

Partnership Working, Engagement & Projects

In 2024, the Neighbourhood Network strengthened both existing and new partnerships across the public, private, and VCSE sectors, continuing to enhance community safety and wellbeing. The NN responded to a high volume of partnership requests, including 67 from Humberside Police, 109 from Hull City Council, and 124 from VCSE organisations, demonstrating its trusted role within the sector.

The NN continued to administer the Humber Watch Association (HWA), coordinating 4 partnership meetings and hosting a successful regional Neighbourhood Watch event during Neighbourhood Watch Week. The event brought together 40 attendees from across the Humber region to share best practice and strengthen collaboration.

‘Lock It or Lose It’ Project – Now in its eighth year, the project distributed 157 secure D-locks across the Humber region, continuing its focus on cycle crime prevention through partnership working and targeted engagement in hotspot areas.

‘Safer You’ Project – The project expanded from four to five wards in 2024, supporting 68 households and distributing 185 crime prevention items. The initiative continued to provide tailored, practical support to vulnerable residents, improving safety and reassurance in their homes.

Community Safety & Outreach – The NN continued to play a key role in community safety, supporting initiatives such as action days, police surgeries, and awareness campaigns, while also delivering wider engagement through events including a Police and Crime Commissioner hustings event attended by over 50 people.

Alf Marshall Community Centre management

Building on its first year, 2024 saw the NN further develop its community centre into a thriving, place-based hub for the HU7 area and beyond. The centre hosted over 700 sessions, with more than 8,700 attendances recorded across a wide range of activities including fitness classes, social groups, youth provision and specialist support sessions.

Targeted programmes such as HU7 Healthy Hearts supported residents to improve their health and wellbeing, while funding secured through the Affordable Warmth programme enabled the centre to support 185 households during the cost-of-living crisis.

The centre also expanded its community offer through partnerships, including surplus food distribution reaching over 3,700 people, Healthy Holidays activity sessions engaging almost 200 children and families, and through the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood’ funding, we delivered 170 sessions to over 1,500 participants.

Community events such as the HU7 Health Summit and Youth Summit further strengthened local engagement, while volunteers contributed over 150 hours, helping to create a welcoming and inclusive space that continues to grow in both reach and impact.

Menopaus’ull Support Network

Throughout 2024, the Menopaus’ull Support Network (MSN) continued to grow as a vital support service for women across Hull and the East Riding. The project delivered 44 activities, engaging over 200 women through cafés, workshops, health sessions, and social events, creating safe and supportive spaces for connection and shared experience.

The Menopaus’ull Library continued to provide valuable resources, with over 90 loans recorded, while partnerships with organisations, healthcare providers, and employers strengthened awareness and support across the region.

Research and development remained a key focus, with ongoing collaboration with the University of Hull to develop a creative production based on women’s lived experiences. In addition, new funding opportunities secured during the year have provided a strong foundation for future growth, including a three-year funding commitment from 2025.

The project also delivered a highly successful World Menopause Day event in partnership with MP Emma Hardy’s office, attracting over 300 attendees and reinforcing its role as a leading voice for menopause awareness and support locally.

Communication & Reach

The NN continued to expand its communication channels, producing 25 editions of its fortnightly newsletter featuring 782 news posts and reaching over 1,000 subscribers. The Menopaus’ull newsletter also grew, delivering 11 editions to nearly 600 subscribers.

Across social media and digital platforms, the NN strengthened its reach and engagement, supporting the promotion of community safety messages, local opportunities, and partner initiatives, while its websites and online presence continued to connect communities with vital information and support.

Overall Impact

During 2024, the Neighbourhood Network secured £186,081 in funding, enabling the continued delivery and growth of its services. Across all programmes, Neighbourhood Networjk has demonstrated its ability to adapt, grow and respond to community need – empowering residents, strengthening partnerships and creating safer, healthier, and more connected communities across Hull.

Looking into 2025

The charity’s work into 2025 includes making headway into furthering the long-term sustainability of the Neighbourhood Network, along with development and sustainability of it key projects that are really making a difference. The plans are to keep reaching into the communities of Hull and further into the East Riding supporting residents to support themselves in building safer and healthier communities. Focus for 2025 will be on elevating the Chairty to work across the three distinct work streams with the appointment of staff to support this move.  

Key plans for 2025 include: 

• Development of the community centre garden – with the exciting relocation of the Songbird Survival’s 2025 RHS Chelsea garden  
• Encourage new trustees with a varied range of experience to join the NN 
• Encourage more volunteers, especially with the community centre project and garden development  
• Update the charity’s websites to better reflect the organisation it is today  
• Grow the delivery team to increase beneficiaries across the work-streams 
• Develop and grow the Menopaus’ull Support Network as it progresses from the Ideas Fund 
• To obtain further funding support for those communities at grassroot level effected by crime and disorder 
• Drive change through the Menoopaus’ull Support Network to support the experiences of those going through menopause 
• Launch the Menopaus’ull play in collaboration the University if Hull 
• Make strides towards a zero-waste community centre facility