Neighbours Connect in Good Hands

By Simone Davis, Manager Neighbours Connect Southmead.

Neighbours Connect Southmead (NCS) was born from the knowledge that people do not always get the care or support they need and deserve within the community.   

Here at the Trust, we looked at ways to take pressure off the Adult Social Care system.  We wanted to create a service where community volunteers could support other residents and act as a bridge to the rest of the community.  

So, we carefully matched trained Volunteers from within the community, with residents in the community who needed company and help.  The idea is to do things together such as discovering community social groups, or more practical things like going to the doctors and small tasks or hobbies at home. Volunteers can also gain valuable work experience in the sector. 

We now have great news to share which is that we have been given further funding to keep Neighbours Connect Southmead going for another few years.  This means we can increase our number of Volunteers, and also continue to encourage the Council’s Adult Social Care team to refer residents to us to support.  

Our other news is, that after many happy years managing Neighbours Connect Southmead, I am now going on maternity leave.  I would like to introduce you to Maria who is going to manage the service while I’m away (we are in the picture above together).  Like me, Maria has a background in Occupational Therapy and is very experienced in working with adults who need support.  Please join me in giving Maria a warm Southmead welcome.  

If you can volunteer to support someone in the community, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Alex Bennett, email: alexbennett@southmead.org

If you would like to find out if we can connect you with a volunteer to help or support you, please email neighbours@southmead.org  To speak to Alex or Maria, please call 0117 950 3335.  

There is always a warm welcome here at the Greenway Centre and someone to talk to, so please feel free to pop in – the café is open 8:30am – 2pm, Monday to Friday, and hot drinks are available to buy all day until we close at 8:45pm weekdays and at 5pm at the weekend.