The Good Neighbours project recruits, trains and supports volunteers to carry out a variety of practical tasks commonly associated with those carried out by a ‘good neighbour’. From small household tasks to helping run errands or assistance with shopping, no long-term commitment is needed from volunteers, just the desire to help local people who need it. Good Neighbours volunteers receive training, support and get together regularly to discuss their role and share experiences. If you want to volunteer close to home and on a flexible basis, we’d love to hear from you.
Who can volunteer?
Anybody can be a Good Neighbours volunteer. You don’t need any particular skills or experience, just the desire and willingness to help people in the community who need it.
How much time do I need to give?
As much or as little as you can – it’s entirely up to you. One of the benefits of volunteering as a Good Neighbour is that there is no long-term commitment – we will offer you suitable opportunities as and when they come up and it’s entirely up to you if you take them.
Do I get support?
Yes. As a Good Neighbours volunteer we can offer you reasonable expenses, training opportunities and regular meetings to keep in touch with your fellow Good Neighbours and share experience and good practice. You’ll also be part of a large network of people who are really making a difference to the day-to-day lives of people in North Tyneside who need that extra bit of help.
Good Neighbours Shopping Scheme
As well as matching volunteers up to people who could use support in and around the house, we also organise a weekly shopping scheme, whereby Good Neighbours volunteers support beneficiaries at the supermarket. Taking place on Tuesday mornings, the scheme finishes with a sociable visit to the a nearby cafe. See below for a number of case studies from our Good Neighbours shopping scheme.
If you or someone you know or work with could use this type of support, please get in touch to find out how the Good Neighbours project can help.
Case studies
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Sue, Good Neighbours beneficiary
Sue has a number of health problems which restrict how much she goes out and can manage alone. “I lost my partner last year and he did everything for me – things that I took for granted. I was struggling with my shopping and finding that I needed some help so Age UK referred me to Good Neighbours. Bill is a treasure, he helps me around the shop and takes all the heavy things in to my house for me. I’m so glad I found out about it.” Sue is pictured with Good Neighbours volunteer, Bill$0.00 donated -
Jean, Good Neighbours beneficiary
“I’ve been coming since the start of the Good Neighbours shopping scheme with Debbie and it’s been a huge help to me. I wouldn’t know what to do without it – it’s sometimes the only time in the week I go out.” Jean is pictured on the right with Good Neighbours volunteers Bill and Debbie (centre)$0.00 donated -
June, Good Neighbours beneficiary
“Paul picks me up from Whitley Bay and brings me here to get my shopping in. I don’t know what I’d do without Paul now, he’s a marvellous help.” June is pictured on the right with Paul (left) and fellow beneficiary Ada (centre)$0.00 donated -
Ada, Good Neighbours beneficiary
“I love coming here on a Tuesday. It makes me get up on a morning and stops me from sitting in front of the television, which is what I’d be doing otherwise. I don’t have that many people to talk to these days and my legs don’t work like they used to. Paul is just wonderful, and it’s nice to have a young man running around after me!” Ada is pictured in the centre with Good Neighbours volunteer Paul, and fellow beneficiary June$0.00 donated -
Paul, Good Neighbours volunteer
“I had to give work up due to ill health and my Occupational Therapist suggested I try volunteering. This is actually the first volunteering I’ve ever done and I really enjoy it. I think I get as much out of coming along as the ladies I help – Ada and June. It’s definitely good for your health – it gives me a sense of purpose and I adore the two of them.” Paul is pictured with Good Neighbours beneficiaries, Ada and June$0.00 donated -
Ann, Good Neighbours beneficiary
A motorbike enthusiast in her younger years, Anne was the proud owner of a BSA 250, but sadly her bike days are behind her now. “Coming here is actually my lifeline. I lost my daughter last year and then had a stroke so I’m very wobbly. Sometimes my eyes let me down so having some help shopping is great for me. When I got up this morning my fridge was literally empty and I wouldn’t get out on my own. Bill, who helps me, says it’s only a couple of hours to him but there’s no ‘only’ about it – it’s a great thing they do volunteering like this.”$0.00 donated -
Dave, Good Neighbours beneficiary
A famous face on Newcastle’s music scene in the 1960s, Dave was a guitarist with Mersey Beat band the Delemeres and counts tuning John Lennon’s guitar before a gig as one of his many claims to fame. Dave then travelled worldwide as a tourist guide, counting Holland as one of his favourite places. In recent months, he has found himself needing just a bit of extra help with day-to-day tasks, including shopping and has struck up friendships with many of the volunteers and other beneficiaries who attend the Good Neighbours shopping scheme. “Coming along here helps me out 100%. I’d be lost without Amy who helps me– she knows what shopping I need better than I do now!”$0.00 donated -
Bill, Good Neighbours Volunteer
I’ve been retired for around 8 years – I was a senior consultant for a construction company – so when I stopped working I wanted to fill my time with something. I actually saw a documentary on TV about volunteers helping people with their gardening, that’s what inspired me, so I did some research to see if there was something similar locally. I wanted to ‘give something back’ as they say. I pick two people up – Dave and Anne – and help them around the store then have a cuppa and a chat afterwards. We actually have a good laugh. It’s only a couple of hours out of my week but for the people we help, it means a lot – they might not manage their shopping without us. Bill is pictured in the centre with Good Neighbours beneficiaries Dave and Anne$0.00 donated -
Maraget, Good Neighbours beneficiary
“Paul is lovely – we get on like a house on fire. He picks me up from home and he’s a great help – he gets all the heavy things off the shelves for me and I really enjoy having a coffee when we’re finished. I’ve made new friends here too – it gets me out of the house for a few hours and breaks the day up.” Margaret is pictured on the left with good Neighbours volunteer, Paul.$0.00 donated -
Paul, Good Neighbours Volunteer
“I live in sheltered accommodation and was looking for something to do in my spare time. I came across VODA doing another project and one of the members of staff told me about Good Neighbours and I didn’t have anything to lose so thought I’d give it a go. It’s not a lot to take one morning a week out. I’m really enjoying helping Margaret and the feeling that I’m putting something back in to the community. I’m out of work at the minute and this has actually made me think about going in to care work in the future. I’m getting a real buzz out of helping people. Long may it continue!” Paul is pictured on the right with Good Neighbours beneficiary, Margaret$0.00 donated -
Good Neighbours volunteers receive North Tyneside Chairman’s Commendation Awards
This summer, volunteers from the Good Neighbours project were presented with awards by Councillor Cath Davis MBE for their help in making a positive difference to the loves of some of the most vulnerable people in North Tyneside. The volunteers were nominated by Community Navigator, Dee Johnson, who said: “I nominated the Good Neighbours shopping group as I think the volunteers are fantastic – they give up their time each week and I feel they go above and beyond. The support they offer to local residents is outstanding.”$0.00 donated -
Linda White on the Good Neighbours Shopping Scheme
Linda lives in sheltered accommodation in Percy Main, North Shields. After being referred to the Good Neighbours project by Care and Connect, she has been coming along to the weekly shopping trips on and off ever since. “I have a bad back and struggle to carry bags so having the support of volunteers for this is a great help. But more than that, it’s the social side of things that I enjoy. It’s not easy meeting new people but this has been a great way for me to chat and make some new friends – I really enjoy coming for a cup of tea at the end of the day.”$0.00 donated -
Good Neighbours Volunteer Bill Magdwich
Bill has been volunteering with the Good Neighbours project since July 2016, after receiving help with his own garden. “I enjoyed the company so much I thought I would give volunteering a go myself and I’m really enjoying it,” Bill said. “I pick up a couple of the ladies who need help with their shopping every week and I usually give Margaret [Henderson] a hand going around – I get on so well with her and it’s good to feel like I’m of use to someone. I would definitely recommend volunteering, it’s keeping me busy and I’ve met some great people.”$0.00 donated
