Daventry District Council - Good Neighbours Scheme

Northamptonshire COVID 19 Response groups

Our partners Northamptonshire ACRE have created a map of all the Good Neighbour Schemes, existing neighbourhood groups and pop up COVID-19 response groups currently operating in the county providing an essential service to local residents. If you get a request that is out of your geographical area you can view the map to see who would be able to help. If you would like to be added to the list please contact Jenni at jennifer.hedges@northantsacre.org.uk

View the map of the Good Neighbour Schemes here

Good Neighbours Schemes are established and run by local people to provide day-to-day support for other residents who may need help on an occasional or regular basis.

The aim is to support neighbours to maintain a good quality of life, remain independent in their own homes if they wish to, and reduce their reliance on statutory health and care support systems.

Daventry District Council is working with Northants ACRE to develop schemes across Daventry District. This work is being carried out as part of the Council's Ageing Well in Daventry District Strategy 2017-21, which has been developed to help older residents lead independent, healthy and active lives for as long as possible in their own homes.

Northamptonshire ACRE has compiled a directory of charitable organisations for our Good Neighbour connectors. Access the Directory here

How the scheme works

In order for a Good Neighbours scheme to work in a village, parish area or neighbourhood, we need at least one person from that area to volunteer as a co-ordinator. Their job is to match people who need help, with volunteers in the area who are willing to give that help.

The overall aim is to help vulnerable or older people with everyday tasks such as:

Dog walking and caring for pets during holiday or illness

Household tasks such as setting up televisions, changing light bulbs or batteries in smoke alarms

Help with shopping

Support filling in forms, writing letters, reading or using computers and the internet

Gardening

Befriending

Offering lifts to a GP surgery, clinic, hospital, day centre or other appointments.

Current schemes funded by Daventry District Council and now operating in our district are Moulton, Crick, Welton and Byfield. They have collectively helped 160 residents, provided 88 volunteers, and have set up referral links with local GP Surgeries. Further schemes are pending in Kilsby, Woodford Halse, Long Buckby, Boughton, Welford and Creaton.

Recently endorsed by The Prince’s Countryside Fund, the scheme received some publicity when it was featured in the Village Survival Guide, a new book published to help rural communities thrive.

How it benefits communities

Good Neighbours schemes are a great way of bringing a community together to help everyone - both the local volunteers as well as the people they are helping.

For volunteers, the scheme is a chance to:

Get involved with your community and do as much or as little as you want. There’s no need to feel awkward if you can’t always help

Meet new people who you might not have met otherwise, including those from different generations

Make good use of whatever time you have to spare as well as particular skills you may have, such as IT or gardening expertise.

The benefits for those being helped include:

A chance to access support to complete jobs that may normally be difficult to do alone

An opportunity to meet new people and make friends

People no longer need to feel they are ‘bothering' neighbours if they need to ask for help frequently

Help people to stay in their own home for longer as they get older

Soften the impact of losing local services such as the village shop or post office.

The scheme aims to provide a social ‘safety net’ for the village or local area in which it is operating. Volunteers complete practical tasks (such as driving or shopping) and/or provide emotional support, such as befriending. They do not offer specialist care or play any role that should be left to professional, qualified services. Nor do they provide volunteers to carry out skilled tasks that are appropriate for qualified tradespeople.

Set up a scheme in your area

Daventry District Council offers grants of up to £1,000 to help groups who wish to set up a Good Neighbours Scheme in their area.

We can also offer:

An overview of how a Good Neighbours scheme could work for your community group, residents group or Parish Council.
Guidance on establishing if there is demand for a Good Neighbours scheme in your area.
A toolkit, based on national good practice, on how to run a Good Neighbours scheme.
Support to get your scheme up and running.

For more information, please contact Emma Parry, Community Projects Officer, on 01327 871100 or email eparry@daventrydc.gov.uk