Our village Whissendine Large Rutland village with 600

Our village: Whissendine • Large Rutland village with 600 homes; according to 2011 census: Ø 1253 residents Ø 111 of 75 and over Ø 33 living alone • Plenty of facilities: Ø Primary school Ø Pub A long village with hills Ø village hall Ø shop with post office Ø sports and social club Ø hair and beauty salon But … • No GP surgery

From the WGNS website Who are we? • The Whissendine Good Neighbour Scheme uses voluntary effort from local people to provide help for anyone in the village who needs assistance with transport, household tasks, companionship, practical support following illness, letter writing, form filling, and more. . . How does it work? • Call 0750 059 9635 between 8 am and 8 pm. A co-ordinator will arrange for one of our registered volunteers to help. Be prepared to leave a message, the co-ordinator may be busy. How much does it cost? • The only charge is for petrol and parking. There is no charge for transport within the village. All the other services are free. www. whissendinegns. org. uk

Definition • We are not just a village transportation scheme • We aim to provide the sort of help you could expect of a good neighbour. • We use voluntary effort from local people to provide help for anyone in the village who needs assistance with transport, household tasks, companionship, practical support following illness, letter writing, form filling, and more. . www. whissendinegns. org. uk 4

Inspiration • The scheme was set up in June 2010 following the publication of a parish plan. In the course of putting together the plan a questionnaire was given to all 600 households in the village. • This identified a need for (among other things) help with transport for the elderly and disabled and befrienders to reduce the isolation that some experienced. WGNS is not just for the elderly however- it is for all village residents. www. whissendinegns. org. uk 5

Dedication • The scheme took 6 months to set up. We sought and received funding from the Rural Communities Council, the Parish Council and Grassroots funding from Voluntary Action Leicester. • We raised money ourselves and also received donations from the village. These enabled us to buy a wheelchair which we offer on short term loan to villagers. www. whissendinegns. org. uk 6

Critical Success Factors • • Management Committee Coordinator role News updates and events for clients and volunteers Transport within the village Rutland County Council subsidy Whissendine Grapevine; fridge magnets Range of services, including wheelchair

Management Committee • Regular (two monthly) meetings in members’ homes • Responsibilities shared amongst the management group members • Meetings used to review statistics • Meetings give opportunity to raise awareness of any clients with particular support needs • Problem solving opportunities

Coordinator • Role of Coordinator shared between several volunteers • Coordinator holds the phone and links volunteers to clients • Coordinators’ Folder holds up to date lists of contact details for clients and volunteers, plus details of transport costs etc • Coordinators take the phone for a week or two at a time • Rota for coordinators agreed several weeks in advance and well publicised to volunteers

News Updates & Events • Summary of Management Committee minutes circulated to all volunteers, plus a newsletter when needed • Article in Whissendine Grapevine (village news letter) from time to time • Annual tea-party for all clients and volunteers – well received and enjoyed by all • Coffee mornings held for volunteers once or twice a year • Christmas dinner for volunteers in a local pub • Successes regularly celebrated!

Transport within Village • Age Concern lunch and Happy Circle meetings alternate, twice a month • WGNS volunteers transport members to these groups • Meetings give opportunity to communicate effectively with large proportion of older clients

Rutland County Council Subsidy • RCC will subsidise cost of travel for all clients who have a free bus pass • Subsidy = 50% of cost • Causes additional administration for WGNS, but saves older or disabled clients 50% of cost of transport • Thus our scheme benefits from same subsidy as Voluntary Action Rutland transport scheme, with added benefit of offering transport with drivers who are familiar to clients

Whissendine Grapevine & the fridge magnets • Free monthly village newsletter, delivered to every household • WGNS contact number always listed • Occasional articles to raise more awareness • Magnets give a simple reminder of telephone number • Available in village shop and given out at events etc

Fundraising • Funds are needed for: Ø Volunteer training Ø Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) checks Ø Insurance (£ 250 - £ 300 per annum) Ø Mobile phone (costs circa £ 130 per annum) Ø Occasional admin expenditure etc • Seek funding opportunities e. g: Ø Supermarket charity support schemes Ø Grants Ø Raffles Ø Ask local parish council for a contribution to running costs Remember to thank all voluntary donors (e. g. driver or client donations)

Range of services • Most requests for volunteers refer to driving to medical appointments • But volunteers also regularly undertake: Ø Gardening Ø Befriending • Range of volunteers hold coordinator role, not just Committee members • Local driving within village (Age Concern and Happy Circle) give volunteer opportunities to volunteers who don’t want to do longer drives • The wheelchair is borrowed from time to time, for several days or just a few hours (e. g. taking someone to vote in General Election!)

Activity for year ending May 2017 • • Transport 48% Befriending 5% Shopping 4% Gardening 5% Wheelchair <1% Miscellaneous 3% Transport arrangements 26% Phone holding 9% (We also keep a record of admin tasks undertaken – eg: website updating, client & relations, collection of stats. , meetings etc)

Assignments 2016 - 17 80 70 60 50 2016 40 2017 30 20 10 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Phone Calls 2016 - 17 35 30 25 20 2016 15 2017 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Summary – how to keep it going • Maintain a good management group: share responsibilities • Encourage volunteers to feel involved and in touch • Help clients and volunteers to get to know each other and to feel part of the scheme • Use local resources to publicise the scheme and keep it in peoples’ minds • Use the RCC subsidy scheme • Keep monitoring and responding to changes in clients and volunteers • Find ways to raise sufficient funds • Use the experiences of others and always be ready to learn, develop and improve • Celebrate successes

Whissendine Good Neighbours Scheme (WGNS) www. whissendinegns. org. uk