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

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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/