A community volunteer scheme that brings neighbours together to provide practical help and companionship is expanding across Peterborough.
The Good Neighbours scheme will create a city-wide network of local support across seven neighbourhood areas.
It is particularly aimed at those who may be isolated, living with frailty or disability, supporting someone as an unpaid carer, or beginning to experience practical difficulties at home.
It will both extend support across the remaining rural communities and also introduce the offer across the city’s urban areas, beginning with Bretton and Westwood, extending further as local volunteer capacity and partnerships are developed.
Volunteering opportunities will include light, medium and micro-volunteering options designed to accommodate different interests and levels of availability.
This can include befriending, shopping, light practical tasks, wellbeing checks, transport support and helping people to connect with community groups and activities. Volunteers may also help to identify emerging needs and connect residents with appropriate community or specialist services.
The scheme complements, rather than replaces, statutory or commissioned care. By offering friendly, low-level support earlier, Good Neighbours aims to help residents remain connected and independent and reduce the risk of smaller problems escalating into crisis.
Residents, community organisations, faith groups, employers and frontline professionals will all have an important role in supporting the rollout. People can help by volunteering, referring an eligible resident, hosting local engagement activity or sharing information through their networks.
Peterborough City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Services Cllr Neil Boyce said: “Good Neighbours is about bringing back neighbourliness and recognising the difference that local people can make in their own communities.
“A friendly conversation, help with a small task or support to get out and about can help someone stay connected and independent.
“By expanding the scheme area by area, we can work with residents and trusted local organisations to develop an offer that reflects each neighbourhood. Our ambition is to create a strong city-wide network in which more people can receive early support and more residents can contribute their time, knowledge and skills."
The phased approach will enable the scheme to recruit volunteers locally, develop relationships with community organisations and establish clear referral routes in each new area.
Stephen Taylor, Executive Director for Adult Social Care & Commissioning, said: “We have seen how much local volunteers can contribute through small acts of practical help and regular social connection.
“This expansion provides an exciting opportunity to work with communities across Peterborough and make the Good Neighbours offer available to many more residents.
“There are many ways to get involved. Volunteering can be flexible, including shorter or occasional opportunities, and volunteers will receive appropriate support, training and recognition.”
Get involved To volunteer, request support or discuss how your organisation can participate in the local rollout:
W: https://www.goodneighboursrp.org.uk
E: hello@goodneighboursrp.org.uk (enquiries)
Referrals: https://haypeterborough.co.uk/support/good-neighbours-rural-peterborough/