Leiston Good Neighbour Scheme provides voluntary help including befriending, support to get out to activities, practical help at home such as filling in forms or tidying a garden. Our aim is to promote a sense of mutual support and friendship within the local community and create opportunities for volunteering.
The Leiston Good Neighbour Scheme (LGNS) provides free voluntary help to people who are socially isolated in Leiston, Sizewell and Knodishall. The aim of the scheme is to support people to improve their quality of life and to develop a sense of mutual help and friendship within the local community. For example our volunteers may visit someone regularly for a chat, give help to fill in a form, support someone to go to a coffee morning or other activity, do a minor repair, collect a prescription or do a small amount of shopping. We do not provide transport (for example to take someone to an appointment) because this is provided by the community transport service (CATS).
Volunteering for LGNS is very rewarding and volunteers can choose what they do and how often. For example some prefer regular befriending; others prefer giving occasional practical help. It’s a great way of meeting people if you are new to the area or wish to build your confidence and skills before returning to a paid job. People who use the service may also decide that they wish to volunteer and give something back to the scheme.
The LGNS has also organised group activities such as an outing to the Tea Dance at Snape Maltings and aims to do more of this in the future.
All volunteers have to complete a Disclosure & Barring Service check and an induction into our policies. This is to ensure they understand about important issues such as the confidentiality and privacy of personal information and handling money. All volunteers also have an ID badge which must be shown when they visit someone.
The scheme has a mobile phone which is held on a rota basis. They may not be able to answer straight away but if you leave a message they will call you back as soon as possible.
Contact us if you need a good neighbour or would like to be one.
Phone: 07724 777465
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm