Good Neighbours get good funding

Community Lincs has been awarded over £300,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to further develop its successful Good Neighbour Schemes throughout Lincolnshire.

Community Lincs’ Good Neighbour Schemes have been running across the county since 2017, thanks to the generous support of the Lincolnshire Co-op.

There are currently seven schemes already in operation, including the Gosberton and Quadring Good Neighbour Scheme, supported by the dedicated GNS workers at Community Lincs. The National Lottery funding will enable the charity to set up a further 28 schemes throughout the county over the next three years.

“This fantastic award from The National Lottery Community Fund means so much to us at Community Lincs as well as to our beneficiaries, we are thrilled to be able to develop and grow our Good Neighbour Schemes across Lincolnshire,” said Gail Jackson, CEO of Community Lincs. “We live in a time of challenge given the increasing pressures on public services, the retraction of infrastructure organisations and closure of local amenities. These challenges are further compounded by the rurality of the county which can contribute to people being unable to access the services they need and to becoming isolated within their own communities.

“Good Neighbour Schemes enable communities to work together to create an environment where people feel safe and secure because they have genuine connection with one another and really ensure that people are at the heart of the community.”

Each Good Neighbour Scheme is different and responds to the needs of the community it is based in but ultimately they are about local people helping their neighbours.

Each scheme is delivered by groups of local volunteers, who provide day-to-day support for other residents. Whilst of benefit to the whole of the community, they are centred on supporting older and vulnerable people who need both practical and emotional support.

To find out more about how Good Neighbours could work in your community contact the GNS team at Community Lincs office@communitylincs.com or 01529 302466.