Photo - Alan Mak MP with members of the Emsworth Good Neigbours scheme
Alan Mak MP gave his backing to Emsworth Good Neighbours as he attended the volunteering group’s AGM at St James’ Church parish hall on Saturday 11 June. The Havant MP praised the ‘vital service’ that the community-based organisation provide to elderly vulnerable residents through a range of social care, practical support and personal transportation.
Mr Mak spoke at the meeting of volunteers, all hailing from the local area, to highlight the important relationship between such groups and regular healthcare services run through hospitals, GP surgeries and the NHS.
Good Neighbours are a nationwide support network affiliated with the Royal Voluntary Service, who aim to alleviate the pressure on local NHS services by identifying vulnerable residents and providing a frontline service in patients’ home, ranging from providing transport to hospital to befriending.
Good Neighbours will spend perhaps an hour a week either in person or over the phone in the company of an older person. Like many groups across the country, the Emsworth Good Neighbours run a series of classes - from IT to tea dances to Tai Chi - as part of the scheme.
Individual groups offer specific services such as getting people to health appointments or befriending. Others provide cafés or coffee mornings, lunch clubs and more. Some groups offer a wide range of neighbourly help such as shopping, sitting for carers, even minor repairs.
With over 100 groups across Hampshire, Good Neighbours is a thriving scheme across the local area, and local MP Alan Mak praised the impact of the community-based volunteers. Mak joined the group for their AGM in Emsworth, where Chairman Felicity Keeping led a review of recent activity at outlined plans for the future.
Mak said: “Emsworth Good Neighbours’ Group are an outstanding local community group working with older people on the front line. By providing hospital transportation and befriending services to some of our most isolated and vulnerable residents, Good Neighbours are ensuring Emsworth’s elderly people get the care and friendship they deserve. It was a pleasure to address their annual meeting.”
Emsworth Good Neighbours Chairman, Felicity Keeping, added: “We were delighted to welcome Alan to the Emsworth Good Neighbours AGM. We help those members of the local community who have no one else to call upon, and it was pleasing to see our local MP highlight the important role we play. Our work helps take the pressure off local healthcare services, and gives our service users a greater sense of independence.”
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