Our volunteers offer the straightforward help a ‘good neighbour’ might give to an older person living nearby.
Here are a few examples of how we have helped older people in Sheffield and Doncaster:
- Moving a bed downstairs following a hospital stay
- Aid mobility by helping to rearrange furniture
- One-off emergency shop. When older people are afraid of falling on slippery pavements, we can offer a one-off emergency shop, and you just pay for your food!
- Accompanying an older person on their hospital appointment, so they don’t have to go alone. Pay for the taxi, but the service is free!
This is how our Good Neighbour Scheme is helping to improve the lives of older people in Sheffield and Doncaster.
How do I make a referral?
SCCCC coordinators take referrals for our Good Neighbour Scheme from a wide range of sources:
- District nurse
- GPs
- Social work teams
- Intermediate care teams
- Relatives and self-referral
How to get in touch for a referral:
0114 2505290 (Option 2)
mail@scccc.co.uk (Enquiries only. Please do not share personal details)
If you would like to learn more about the Good Neighbour Scheme download our leaflet.
Even if we can’t help you, we may know someone who can!
Frequently asked questions about support from SCCCC
Will it be the same person each week?
Yes, once you have a volunteer, the same person will ring you, at a time to suit you.
That way you really get to know each other and build a friendship!
You will also get occasional calls from the coordinators, just to check all is well.
How often does the volunteer ring?
Most volunteers ring every week, but your volunteer will discuss this with you.
Who are the volunteers?
Our volunteers are a mix of people; male, female, older, younger……some can ring in the daytime, some in the evenings or weekends … all are very friendly, have completed the SCCCC induction program, and have had a D.B.S check (police check).
If you have any special interest, we can sometimes find a volunteer who has the same.
My older family member does not speak English, can they still receive phone calls?
Where possible, we aim to match volunteers and older people according to their needs (e.g. someone who speaks the same language, from the same cultural background or lives locally)
What will we talk about?
Anything and almost everything!
Our volunteers have training and guidance in finding subjects that you might like to chat about, and they are very friendly people.
TV is always a good starting point, as is favourite childhood holidays.
What do you tell the volunteer about me?
The volunteer has you name and phone number, and if you wish, your address (some volunteers will write or send cards, too).
The Good Neighbour Coordinator will talk to you about what else you would like your volunteer to know.
Can I have my volunteers number so I can contact them?
We ask that you contact your volunteer via the office number which is 0114 2505292.
We will send you a card with this number on, so you can keep it by the phone.
We will then ask the volunteer to contact you.
Can my volunteer visit me at home?
If you wish to have a home visit please ring the office, and we will talk to you about our ‘friendly visiting’ service.
What if I don’t get on with my volunteer?
Our volunteers are lovely people, but if you feel you are not getting along, please ring the office number, and we will stop the phone calls.
If you would like a different person to ring, we can arrange that, or we can stop the calls altogether.
I worry that my volunteer is spending a lot of money calling me…
Our volunteers are paid any out-of-pocket expenses.
I struggle to hear on the phone … will this work for me?
It may be difficult.
We can try calls to see if they work for you, but if they don’t, we can offer our PenPal scheme, and you can be on our waiting list for friendly visiting.
For support from SCCCC contact Tammy Wilson on 0114 2505292 or email her: tammy.wilson@scccc.co.uk to refer yourself to the scheme.
Remember there are no strangers here, just friends you haven’t met yet.
Make a donation to SCCCC today!
Make a donation today to assist SCCCC to maintain the level of care that all of our friends and families deserve. Your donation will go a long way to improving the level of care across the region.
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