The NCS is a good neighbour scheme that supports older people, people with physical disabiities and carers by recruiting local volunteers to support them in a variety of ways. The scheme operates in ten neighbourhoods of Brighton & Hove, embracing about half of the city’s population (c.125,000 people).
The NCS is committed to the value of good neighbourliness.
Health and Wellbeing
Full Programme of Free Volunteer Training Available Now!
Working with the city’s Health Trainers and several other projects we have put together a programme of training that runs to March 2012. Find out details by clicking HERE.
The Health Trainers have their own programme of Promoting Community Health and Wellbeing training that is open to all NCS volunteers. Find out details by clicking HERE.
STOP PRESS!
Safe Handling of Wheelchairs.
The Lifelines Project are running a training session on the safe handling of wheelchairs on Wednesday, 19 October, 1.00-3.30 p.m. This is open to NCS volunteers as well. For more details, click HERE.
Good News from 2010-11!
The year to 31 March 2011 was another record year for the Neighbourhood Care Scheme. Here are a few highlights.
- More volunteers were active than ever before (237)
- Our volunteers directly supported more people than ever before (257)
- They provided more support than ever before (11,270 hours – up 18% on 2010-11).
- In October 2010, we started working in the Bristol Estate, Manor Farm and Whitehawk – our tenth neighbourhood. We already have 23 local scheme members and 9 volunteers on the books, with a further 15 volunteers at various stages of the recruitment process.
You can now read a brief report of our work in 2010-11 here.
And Good News for the Coming Year!
As late as March, we were planning for staff cuts of 40% in May. However, thanks to a combination of continued support from the Council and the Primary Care Trust, donations from many individuals, and some good housekeeping, it looks as if we will be able to go through 2011-12 without making any cuts.
Not only will the scheme survive, but we should see improvements in the service we provide. We are planning a comprehensive programme of training for our volunteers, with an emphasis on promoting community health an wellbeing (we will be posting details on the website soon). This should enable us to provide more and better advice and information around health and wellbeing to our scheme members.
Thank You!
With over 600 scheme members and 300 volunteers, the Neighbourhood Care Scheme is a big collaborative effort. We would like to thank everyone who has helped to support the scheme, so that we are in position to continue to make and sustain positive connections between neighbours and help to create more caring local communities in Brighton and Hove.
The National Lottery Awards
In 2010 the NCS reached the Final of the National Lottery Awards in the Best Voluntary/Charity Project category. Although we did not win, the scheme featured in the Awards programme live on BBC1. You can view a short film made in connection with the Awards below:
Sean de Podesta
Project Leader
Neighbourhood Care Scheme
Intergen House
65-67 Western Road
Hove
BN3 2JQ
01273 775888