Sustainable Faith Based Social Action
Sustainable Faith Based Social Action
Sitting under the CSR umbrella the Good Neighbours Network is a unique and valuable asset to local communities
The Good Neighbours Network is a unique and valuable asset to local communities, providing what is needed in a caring, people focused and nimble way.
The Good Neighbours model is one of autonomy, self organisation and eventual self-resourcing. This is both appreciated by the groups themselves, it secures their independences and enables responsive and consistent delivery at low cost.
Post Covid, Good Neighbours group sand volunteers have became even more resourceful and found new and creative ways to maintain valuable ‘lifelines’ to their local community.
The Network currently consists of 123 groups across Hampshire connecting almost 4,000 volunteers who between them produce around 135,000 acts of kindness each year, ranging from hospital transport and befriending to dog walking and brunch.
All groups are supported by the Network Hub, a small, professional and ‘merry’ team who provide safeguarding, insurance, training, a GNN tool kit, policies and procedures and hands on advice for the recruitment and management of this valued SOCIAL ACTION.
OCTOBER 2022, saw the launch of a new loneliness project, called GO TO bikes, funded by the Department for Transport – it is the first central run GNN project. Initially planned as a nine month pilot scheme, the project was based initially in Hayling Island and Hartley Wintney. In each location an E-cargo bike, is out and about delivering shopping and prescriptions and twice a week at each location the Tri-shaw bike is available to take folk out for pre-booked rides, each contact is an opportunity for an innovative transport interaction and all rides and deliveries are bookable via a unique GO TO app.
The set-up and on-going participation is closely linked to the existing GNN groups and we are very grateful for their pioneering spirit, Hayling Voluntary Service and Hartley Wintney Voluntary Service
March 2023, St M’s, Paulsgrove joined the GO TO project, providing additional rides for locals and helped out with deliveries from the Paulsgrove Panty and hot meals to residents Breslar House.
SEPTEMBER 2023, GO TO bikes successfully concluded after a short extension to the time scale – we are delighted that the Tri-shaw ride initiative will start up again, April 2024 and will be run by the Hartley Wintney Voluntary Service. More details to follow as we have them.
Spring 2024, the E-cargo delivery bike will be transferred to St Marys Church, Portsmouth who have plans to integrate deliveries into a community project in partnership with The Fratton Pantry.
GNN is currently funded by the Clinical Commissioning Board and CSR.
Website http://www.goodneighbours.org.uk
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