Good Neighbours
Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle
Community Hub Update #8
3 October 2020
Dear people,
I heard some good feedback about Shine On (shine-on.life), the local campaign to prevent suicide and provide access to mental health resources. It's worth a look if you didn't visit after the last update.
We have a number of requests for volunteers.
- ---- is an older man with mild dementia but still able to hold a conversation. He is a pleasant and interesting chap, who has spent most of his life in this area apart from his national service. He would appreciate a visit for an hour or so each week or most weeks, ideally from a man - he doesn't have many men to talk with, as his main contacts are his daughters and a female carer. The main contact is one of the daughters, who is very appreciative of anyone who will take an interest in him.
- ---- would appreciate someone to visit her. She is in a wheelchair, and can't get out of her flat on her own. If you can't visit, then a phone call would make a difference.
- ---- would like someone to ring him - preferably someone interested in motorcycles, or the massive vehicles you get on building sites, but right now he is keen to talk with anyone.
- ---- lives in Henbury, but doesn't have either a computer or a telephone. I have made contact by letter, and am planning to see him this week. He seems a social individual, looking for opportunities to meet and help others, but finding opportunities severely limited at present. What could we signpost him towards? Please let me know if you have any suggestions!
- ---- says he is quiet, but would like some company, and also some help with odd jobs around the house. I have asked for some more information, but not had a reply yet, but if this sounds like something you might be able to explore, do say.
We have set up the Whatsapp group. I know it's not for everybody, but it works for some – and, as an encrypted messaging service, it is very good for communicating peoples' contact details. Do let me know if you would like to join the group – I don't send out many messages.
I obtained a small grant to enable me to spend a day or two a week on this work, and now need to write a report on the first year's activity. So I need to ask both the volunteers and the people we are helping: please would you send me something about the difference Local Friends and the Community Hub has made. Also one or two 'case studies' – examples I can write a paragraph about, changing names, of course. And I also need the equality forms completed (localfriends.org.uk/gn/equality.htm) - if you have not already done so, please can you do it in the next week? Only takes a minute or so. Thanks. And if you have ongoing contact with someone, please can you point them to the form, or ask them the questions and fill it in for them, or I can let you have a paper copy if that would be easier.
Previous hub updates can be found on the Local Friends website (localfriends.org.uk/m/sm/), so if you think you may have missed any, you can catch up there.
As always, thank you very much in advance for your help. And if you have any questions or need any support in what you are doing, do let me know.
All the best,
Paul.
