The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A new Good Neighbours Scheme for people in the south of the district is up and running while those behind a similar proposed project in Spalding say they’re ‘delighted’ with the response they’ve had from the public.
The East Elloe Good Neighbour Scheme has begun to carry out some services despite the area being placed in the highest COVID-19 restrictions and is still looking for more volunteers to help other residents around Holbeach, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge who need it most.
Due to the government restrictions in the first two weeks of becoming operation they’ve had to limit their services with the most popular so far being befriending phone calls and collecting prescriptions.
Frank Heinrich-Tiller is one of the people behind the East Elloe scheme.
He said: “Our Service will unfortunately be restricted at this time to doorstop deliveries during the current Lockdown.
“We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and support does not include Transport services due to COVID-19 regulations.
“We are currently planning for our Christmas Services and would request those ‘Users’ who are relying on us for their prescription collections to please allow sufficient time, we are suggesting you should be getting your prescription request into your Doctor’s surgeries early to give us at least two or preferably three days’ notice for the pick-up.”
If you would like to volunteer for the East Elloe Good Neighbours Scheme you can contact either Father Jonathan Sibley, Vicar of St Mary’s Church in Long Sutton on 01406 362033 or email Jonathan.sibley3@btinternet.com or Katy Gale at Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Services (LCVS) South Holland Volunteer Centre on 07508 950438 or email: katygale@lincolnshirecvs.org.uk
To request a service from the Good Neighbour Scheme call 0800 999 1894.
The scheme will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
* A working group is to meet with prospective volunteers early in the New Year ahead of the creation of a Good Neighbours Scheme for Spalding after organisers consulted the public.
The group is a continuation of the Spalding Kindness Team while being set up in conjunction with Community Lincs, part of YMCA Lincolnshire.
A spokesperson for the group said: “The working group has met and we are delighted to confirm that there has been a good response to the survey.
“There has also been a good response from those residents wishing to register their interest to volunteer to be being part of an organising committee.
“We are now in the process of contacting those volunteers and plan to hold a meeting with them and the working group early in January 2021.”
