'People need people': how YOU can help
05/08/2010
Tony Watts laments (People need people) the lack of ‘a means of bringing people together to help each other in a coordinated and purposeful way’.
Befriending schemes offering home visiting and regular telephone calls made by volunteers do exactly this. Such schemes need to be more numerous and better resourced as their simple and cost effective methods remove the barriers to kindness. The VitalLinks directory of befriending Schemes for older people in England and Wales is designed to make schemes easier to find for both volunteers and clients. The directory will go online later this summer.
Brighton and Hove Neighbourhood Care Scheme Project Leader, Sean de
Podesta, says: ‘Despite all the press stories about neighbours from hell, good neighbourliness is alive and well – at least in Brighton & Hove! We believe that generally people care about their neighbours and that neighbourly goodwill is a precious resource that can help to enhance the lives of many isolated people. Simple things really can make a big difference to people’s lives.’ You can vote for Brighton and Hove Neighbourhood Care Scheme in the finals of the National Lottery awards until 13 August. Vote for free online www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
Plymouth’s Waves high street shop and cafe is the type of hub that Tony yearns for. Managed by Carole Hickling and operated by Plymouth Befriending Consortium, the one stop shop now has 9 volunteers who help out on a regular basis. Most of these volunteers have become involved by walking in off the street. The volunteers also form the basis of the shop’s Focus Group to monitor, plan future events and share ideas. A volunteer remarks ‘ I have found the last few months truly enjoyable. The people who have made use of the shop have had a sometimes challenging variety of issues but the relaxed, non-judgmental, non-intrusive atmosphere puts clients at ease.’
Kathleen Gillett
VitalLinks Network Coordinator