Ten minutes with your neighbours
Published
In a power cut or a flood, the people nearest to you help first, and most of us don’t know their numbers. Ten minutes with the people on your street does more than any piece of kit. It’s free, and it counts towards Be Ready’s advice to swap numbers with a neighbour.
In the government’s 2026 survey, 62% of adults thought their neighbourhood would pull together in an emergency. And 48% had a neighbour who might need extra support. Both are good reasons to know who lives next door.
The ten-minute version
Knock, say hello, and ask three things.
- Can we swap phone numbers? Put theirs on paper as well as in your phone.
- What have you got? A torch, a radio, a spare room, a car, a camping table to eat at. Say what you have too.
- Is there anyone on the street who might like a knock? You’ll often find that your neighbour already knows.
That’s it. You don’t need a meeting, a rota or a name for the group.
Who to check on
- Older neighbours, especially anyone who lives alone.
- People who rely on powered equipment, like a medical device or a stairlift. Our page on medical equipment in a power cut explains the Priority Services Register.
- New parents.
- Anyone in a ground-floor or basement flat, if there’s a flood.
Think of it as a knock on the door, not as taking over. A neighbour who is fine will say so, and that’s a good answer too. Age UK suggests checking in on older neighbours who live alone, and offering to help with errands or clearing a path. Their advice is on Age UK’s page about looking out for neighbours.
A printed street list
Paper works when phones don’t. Fill this in with your neighbours, print the page, and give everyone a copy. Only write down what people are happy to share.
| Name | House | Phone | Can lend or share |
|---|---|---|---|
Keep your own note of who might like a knock on the door. It’s for you, so it doesn’t go on the shared list.
A group chat, and a note through the door
A shared WhatsApp group is quick and easy for everyday things, and good for the swap in the first place. But phones may be down in the very situations you’re planning for, so keep the printed list as well.
Not everyone uses a phone. For them, a handwritten note through the door works well: your name, your house number, your phone number, and “knock if you need anything”. Keep it short and friendly.
The question to ask: where do we meet?
If phones are down, where do we meet? Pick somewhere easy to find, like the end of the street or a neighbour’s front room, and agree it out loud. Our page on phones and internet down covers the rest, including keeping some cash and an FM radio for news.
Gentle limits
No one has to share personal details, and you shouldn’t ask for them. Check, don’t pry. A name, a number and a “yes, I’m fine” is plenty.
If you’d like to go further, Neighbourhood Watch has a page to find your local group, and the British Red Cross has guidance on preparing for emergencies, which includes helping those around you.
Our free checklist has the rest of the swap-numbers list, and the kit covers your own household.
Everything we recommend is on one page: the kit.
Read next
- Phones and internet down
If mobiles, landlines, internet or card payments stop working: how to reach 999, why to keep some cash, and how to save your phone battery.
- Getting an older parent ready
What to sort on your next visit, most of it free.
- If someone at home relies on powered medical equipment
The Priority Services Register, a plan from the care team, and a landline backup.
- Power cut
What to do in a power cut in the UK: report it on 105, use torches not candles, keep the freezer shut, and check on the neighbours.