Find out more about what we are doing and how we do it. The year to 31 March 2009 was the most active and successful in the history of the NCS. Here are a few highlights:
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Our volunteers helped more people than ever before (208 individuals)
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Volunteers provided more support than ever before (7100 hours)
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We recruited a record number of volunteers (88)
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The number of volunteers increased by 50% to 210
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We started the scheme in Patcham and Hollingbury, our ninth neighbourhood
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We gained Approved Provider Status (APS) accreditation from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF)
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We attended a reception at 10 Downing Street to celebrate acheivements in mentoring and befriending
National charity says 'Befriending could transform lives of half a million of Britain's loneliest older people'
Almost half a million lonely older people’s lives could be transformed if £120 million was invested in local befriending schemes, according to Counsel and Care, the national charity working with older people, their families and carers to get the best care and support.
Counsel and Care estimates that only £70million of public funding, together with levering in an extra £50 million from non-statutory sources, could enable 480,000 older people to access the benefits of befriending, supported by 240,000 volunteers. Extrapolating the costs of running the award-winning Neighbourhood Care Scheme in Brighton and Hove suggests that £120 million across the country would benefit both older people and volunteer befrienders as well as saving on huge health and social care costs.
NCS wins Mental Health Wellbeing Award!
NCS has won the South East Coast regional heat of the Health and Social Care Awards 2009 and were Runners Up in the National Finals. Click here to see a short video about the scheme.
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