Both the Marlborough and the Pewsey community areas now have Good Neighbours co-ordinators to help the elderly connect to services which can maintain their health, improve their quality of life and allow them to stay longer in their own homes.
It’s a confidential and free service fully funded by Wiltshire Council and delivered under contract by Community First, the Devizes based charity that works to strengthen and establish communities, and tackle disadvantage across Wiltshire and Swindon. The Wiltshire Good Neighbours scheme is run in partnership with Age UK Wiltshire and Age UK Salisbury.
Lucy Hawkins is the co-ordinator for the Marlborough area – all seventeen parishes. Her part-time, flexible hours work began in December. She’s completed the training and is now getting the scheme known throughout the area. Before taking this job, Lucy worked for fourteen years first as a district nurse and then with the Wiltshire neighbourhood care teams.
Mary Soellner covers the even larger Pewsey area – including the Bedwyns and Burbage. Before she took time out to have children, Mary was a social worker specialising in children and families. She started with the Wiltshire Good Neighbour scheme in December 2011.
Older people living in rural communities who are vulnerable or likely to become vulnerable can be referred to Lucy or Mary by their GPs or their neighbours providing they have the client’s consent. Or people can refer themselves.
The broad aim is to encourage self-reliance rather than create dependency. And as Lucy says: “We don’t turn anybody down.”
The whole of Wiltshire is now covered by Good Neighbours co-ordinators. In 2012 they made 1,247 contacts across the county. The issues the co-ordinators can help with include personal finance and benefit problems, social isolation, home safety, social care, health care needs, home maintenance and transport: “There’s very seldom just one issue for each client.”
There’s a ‘Winter’s Journey’ scheme that brings increased contact with the clients – and help on such winter problems as minimising fuel bills: “If anyone’s got old curtains in their attics they can be a real help for those with single glazed windows.” And there will be extra checks to make after heavy rain or snow.
Some of the benefit is simply in giving older people, many of whom live alone, friendship and a contact point for when things get beyond them.
If you know anyone who needs this sort of helpful service the contact for the Marlborough area is 07557 922030. And for the Pewsey area it is 07557 110418. Or you can make a first contact via the Wiltshire Good Neighbours Team on 01380 732828 or wgn@communityfirst.org.uk
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