Good Neighbours

A group of Good Neighbours having a cuppa in a cafe

Interested in becoming a Good Neighbour?

Are you looking to try something different and make new connections in 2024? The Good Neighbours project offers flexible opportunities to help someone in North Tyneside that fit around you. For more information, contact VODA’s Good Neighbours team on 0191 643 2626 or email [email protected].

Good Neighbours LogoNorth Tyneside VODA’s Good Neighbours Project has been active across North Tyneside for the last seven years; we support volunteers to carry out tasks typical of a ‘good neighbour’ for vulnerable residents at no cost.

The Good Neighbours project focuses on practical support with shopping, picking up prescriptions and other tasks such DIY and gardening. We offer one-off volunteering opportunities and more long-term commitments, like buddy support. This makes good neighbours a great opportunity to help out and support your local community. A little bit of help can go a long way.

What we do

Our team of Good Neighbour volunteers can assist with tasks such as:

  • Shopping on behalf of someone
  • Prescription drop-offs
  • Be a buddy
  • DIY tasks / Odd jobs
  • Gardening tasks (April – September)

 

Good Neighbour volunteers can assist with tasks typical of a ‘good neighbour’. Good Neighbours volunteers cannot assist with anything that requires specialist knowledge, tools or is a health and social care need.

Volunteering Roles

Could you be a Good Neighbour?

If you’re looking for a friendly and flexible volunteering opportunity then look no further. The Good Neighbours project has a number of roles available, so finding one that suits your interests and location is easy. You don’t need any particular skills or experience, just the desire and willingness to help people in the community who need it. 

Here at The Good Neighbours project, we list opportunities on the Volunteero app. As one of our volunteers you’ll be given exclusive use of the app, meaning that you can choose from a range of volunteering opportunities that suit your lifestyle. See more on how the app works here. 

Ready to sign up as a Good Neighbour?

How we support our Volunteers

Good Neighbours volunteers will be able to access the following support from VODA:

  • Telephone and email support at all times during your volunteering.
  • Reimbursement of any travel expenses and hand sanitiser costs incurred whilst volunteering.
  • Access to guidance on Safeguarding and Lone Working
  • All volunteers will be covered by VODA’s policies and procedures
  • A certificate of thanks
  • Opportunity to meet other volunteers and share your volunteering experience
  • Monthly roundup of feedback, opportunities for training, socials and useful services
  • A closed Facebook group where you can connect with your fellow volunteers

If you want to volunteer close to home and on a flexible basis, we’d love to hear from you. Email one of the Good Neighbours team or fill in this form.

How can I refer into Good Neighbours for help?

The scheme is open to anyone aged 18+ who is a resident of North Tyneside and unable to complete the task themselves due to health, age or disability and has no one else they can call on for help. 

To make a referral to Good Neighbours

Once a referral is made, our team of volunteer co-ordinators will match one of our helpful volunteers to complete the task.  

Happy to Chat

Borough wide ‘Happy to Chat’ sessions in collaboration with the Ending Loneliness partnership and Living Well North Tyneside. These informal spaces will provide an opportunity for residents to share a cuppa and chat with someone new whilst finding information on local services, activities and support happening. These session run from Dreamshine’s Well-bee-ing Hub in Wallsend every Friday 13:00 till 15:00. Contact [email protected] / 07596806378  for more information or if you are interested in becoming a future Happy to Chat volunteer. Click here for the volunteer role description.

More locations are coming soon…

 

Meet the Good Neighbours Team

Emma Bradwell

Emma Bradwell

[email protected]

Jen H

Jen Hewitt

[email protected]

Partnership and Funding

Good Neighbours is proud to be part of North Tyneside’s Ending Loneliness Partnership. We work closely with organisations such as Age UK North Tyneside, The Carers Centre, Citizens Advice and Living Well North Tyneside to help people connect in North Tyneside.  

Our work at Good Neighbours is made possible by funding from North Tyneside Council and The Community Fund.  

Case studies

Good Neighbours Case Study: Hazel

When I broke my hip in November, it was a huge shock to me and very unexpected. I was living on my own and the weather was really bad. We were going through a cold snap with snow and ice. I didn’t feel confident at all stepping outside of my front door. I felt stuck, […]

Good Neighbours – John & Carlos

Good Neighbours beneficiary John and Good Neighbours volunteer Carlos, who take part in both our Buddy and Social Shopping Scheme, have a chat to explain how the Good Neighbours project has made a difference to them… VODA’s Good Neighbours project is one of several organisations that are a part of the Endling Loneliness project (ELP), […]

Katie and Carol

Katie and Carol have been meeting up together since before Christmas. Carol had lost her confidence following a stroke and was left with mobility problems down her left side. She was wanting help to get out a bit more to get back some of her independence. Katie is a student studying at Newcastle University. She […]

Mike Turner: Good Neighbours Volunteer

VODA’s Good Neighbours project coordinates a host of friendly volunteers who are keen to support their local community. During these difficult times, we have worked hard to help as many people with grocery shopping, collecting prescriptions, odd DIY jobs and community buddy support.   Spotlight  Mike has volunteered in North Tyneside for many years. He has begun […]

Volunteers’ Week: Good Neighbour Sherrill Bacchus

Sherrill moved to the North East from Cambridge four years ago. She had worked in recruitment for many years, but decided it was time for a change, as she didn’t feel like she was really living life. So, one day she decided that there had to be more to life than working crazy hours, paying […]

Volunteers’ Week: Good Neighbour Charlie Fernandez

Charlie got involved with volunteering as he doesn’t like sitting around. He has worked all his life, starting off as a merchant navy engineer and then became a mechanical engineer. Charlie’s wife passed away four years ago and the company he was working for asked if he wanted to take retirement but advised him to […]

Andy Burtenshaw: Good Neighbours Volunteer

Andy is an ‘ex Southerner’ who has lived in the North East for more than 20 years. He has more than 30 plus years’ experience of working in HR, most recently at Teesside University and Gateshead Council. Lockdown came and Andy wanted to do something to help and keep busy. He didn’t feel he knew […]

Kerry: Good Neighbours Beneficiary & Volunteer

Kerry is one of our amazing Good Neighbours walking buddies, who has been working hard to help her fellow North Tynesiders during the pandemic. However, she did not start out as a volunteer, but instead she herself was on the receiving end of support from another of the Good Neighbours’ team. Her experiences of receiving […]

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