Good Neighbours

Context

Local Friends was set up to address the increasing problem of social isolation. The nature of this problem started to change rapidly in March 2020, so we needed to change our strategy.

Advice from the Government about protecting from and reducing the transmission of Covid-19, the current coronavirus pandemic, is leading to increasing isolation of vulnerable people – especially among the elderly.

In the medium term, it must be right to offer lonely people some face-to-face contact, so the core strategy will not change. But encouraging people to visit isolated elderly and vulnerable people is problematic at a time when we are being told we should reduce our social contact with them.

However, the need doesn’t go away – and the need is likely to increase significantly as people find their existing face-to-face contact is reduced.

As well as simple isolation, people are likely to experience practical problems, such as access to basic groceries and prescriptions, if they fear – or are advised to avoid – going out.

The ‘Good Neighbours’ Plan

The ‘Good Neighbours’ plan is that Local Friends is acting as the local support hub for coordinating local activity. We are doing this in partnership with Sea Mills Community Initiatives and Can Do Bristol.

We are still basically functioning as a ‘dating agency’, connecting people who are isolated with those who are willing to help. But instead of asking for volunteers who would be willing to visit a lonely person, we are asking people to phone or email on a regular basis – maybe every couple of days? – and, if necessary, either help with a little local shopping or picking up a prescription, or pass on the request for a little practical assistance.

Details of the support being offered and the various ways to offer or request support can be found in the local pages.

If you would like to read a little more about the plan, we have outlined some of the issues which arise and some of the practical details to address them.

If you would like to know more or would like to help in some way, please get in touch!