Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
Neighbourly Help Coordinator
In collaboration with Age Concern Camden, the CGCA, with a grant from Camden Council, researched the need for a co-ordinator to support volunteers who help our elderly citizens. There is a clear need for this service, which will avoid offering anything that duplicates existing services such as regular shopping or repairs that are a landlord's responsibility. The support offered is that which a kind, friendly and trustworthy neighbour would offer.
The co-ordinator will give back-up support to existing self-help networks and set up a new scheme offering local older members:
- social support for those who wish it from selected and trained volunteers
- 'neighbourly' (i.e. not professionally qualified) volunteer help with certain non-recurrent practical tasks that are not provided for either by statutory entitlement or duty of landlords
- short term help with special tasks (e.g. feeding of a bird or cat while older person is in hospital, shopping for a special gift member wants to give) which maintain independence and/or improve quality of life
- regular contact with the scheme for those who may become isolated or who may be unaware of services they are entitled to
- support to isolated older people who want to form mutual social support networks
- help to obtain wanted services and advocacy, where appropriate
- carry out outreach to local older people (especially those who are isolated and not in touch with existing groups) to maintain awareness of their needs, to promote services to them, and to adapt the scheme offered to address newly identified needs.
Currently the CGCA is seeking specific funding for this service and we envisage recruiting the co-ordinator in the autumn. The CGCA wish to record their thanks to Age Concern Camden for their support in this worthy project and in particular to Lindsay River.
Douglas Rose
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