Sharing good practice
Post on 30-Dec-2015
23 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Transcript
Sharing good practice
Who is in the room?
Our village: Whissendine• North West of Rutland• One of largest of Rutland villages• At least 1000 years of history - mentioned in the Domesday Record• Two fine Grade 1 listed buildings:
– St Andrews Church one of the largest in Rutland with an impressive 100-foot tower– Working windmill.
• 600 homes: a mix from thatch to 21st century conversions and new developments
• Primary school, two pubs, village hall, village shop, sports and social club and hair and beauty salon
• No GP surgery or post office
1253 residents, 111 are 75 and over and 33 live aloneSource: www.neighbourhood statistics
Source: Whissendine web page
In addition to Whissendine Good Neighbours Scheme (WGNS)• Age UK• Happy Circle• Pre school / play group• Brownies• WI• Youth Club• Stars etc
• Handy man• Gardening• Electrician• Painter and decorator• Carpets• Kitchen design• Cattery• Kennels etc
Source: Whissendine web page
Whissendine: good weather
Bad weather
WGNS: started in 2010 Current structure• Management group of 9
who meet every two months
• 30 volunteers• All volunteers undergo
safeguarding checks– Issued with an id card to be
shown for all assignments
Getting started•The parish plan•Needs analysis•Steering group•Public meeting•Recruitment•Publicity
From the WGNS websiteWho are we?• The Whissendine Good Neighbour Scheme uses voluntary effort from local
people to provide help for anyone in the village who needs assistance with transport, household tasks, companionship, practical support following illness, letter writing, form filling, and more...
How does it work?• Call 0750 059 9635 between 8am and 8pm. A co-ordinator will arrange for
one of our registered volunteers to help. Be prepared to leave a message, the co-ordinator may be busy.
How much does it cost?• The only charge is for petrol and parking. There is no charge for transport
within the village. All the other services are free.
www.whissendinegns.org.uk
Volunteers asked which type of work are they able to do• Driving to hospital/clinic/doctor• Shopping/errands/collecting prescriptions/pensions• Help with (non legal )form filling • Gardening/domestic work in an emergency• Internet/IT advice• Befriending• Assistance with pets• Administration of the Good Neighbour Scheme• Holding the Mobile phone for a week on a rota basis
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
201220132014
WGNS volunteer activity
WGNS volunteer activity
WGNS management group recent evaluation
What we do well• Fills a gap for lonely or
isolated people in the village• Usually able to help: flexible• Wide range of help offered• Continually developing:
introduction of wheelchair• Social events: for volunteers
and clients get to know one another - engenders trust
Where we could improve• Raise awareness of the
scheme amongst more people in the village
• More emphasis that it is not just for transport or for elderly people
Advice we would give to others starting out• Don’t look for a need that is not there• Establish the parameters to decide what you can and can’t do:
you cannot meet every need• Maintain a good management group: share responsibility and
power• Have volunteers who are keen to make it a success: drivers
especially in demand• Celebrate success• Things change: clients and volunteers• Don’t try to do it by yourself: use the experiences of others
WGNS management group
December 2013: WGNS receives award from Red Cross and Rutland Times for 'Being inspiring and doing inspiring work in the local community of Rutland’
Summary • Establish the need• Recruit• Deal with
bureaucracy• Find funding• Publicize• Start• Evaluate• Celebrate
Questions and comments
Whissendine Good Neighbours Scheme (WGNS)
www.whissendinegns.org.uk/
top related