Today (7 June) marks the end of National Volunteers Week and we want to shout about Thame’s Good Neighbour Scheme volunteers and all the amazing things they do. Our volunteers celebrated with tea and cake at the Town Hall earlier today (pictured), along with the scheme’s co-ordinators and committee members. Newly-joined and longer serving volunteers shared their experiences of volunteering with the scheme with each other, and got to know one another other a bit better too.
Since its launch in March 2015, Thame Good Neighbour Scheme has been working hard to help those in the community who are in need of help or support. Through our team of dedicated volunteers, we offer occasional transport, befriending, help with shopping, prescription and library book collection, help with pets and much more.
We spoke to some of our volunteers to find out why they volunteer with Thame’s Good Neighbour Scheme.
Simon and Caroline, a retired couple who live in Thame, enjoy meeting new people through the scheme and find that volunteering strengthens the community life in Thame. They regularly volunteer with one-off transport requests, which involves taking people to appointments at the health centre in Thame and sometimes to local hospitals, and add that "we would urge anyone who has a car, and has some free time, to consider volunteering as a driver."
Philip chooses to volunteer with the scheme as he enjoy helping others and giving back to his community. Philip currently visits a gentleman who is recovering from surgery. They go for walks to help increase his mobility, and then enjoy a chat and a cup of tea together. Philips also takes him to the Practice for regular check-up appointments. Philip finds it very rewarding to give a few hours a week to improve the lives of others, adding that he would recommend volunteering to everyone.
We have received 330 requests for help since our launch and it is thanks to our willing volunteers that we have been able to complete the majority of these requests. If you would like a helping hand from time to time from one of our volunteers please get in touch on 0800 531 6286. Similarly, if you think you could spare a few hours a month to help others, like Philip, Simon and Caroline do, then why not become a volunteer? You can find all the information about signing up at www.thamegns.org, or send us an email to [email protected].
