Good Neighbour Support Volunteer Scheme

What is a Good Neighbour Support Volunteer?

A Good Neighbour Support Volunteer collects shopping and prescriptions for a vulnerable Plymouth resident on a weekly basis, stopping to make time for a friendly chat with them.

Each volunteer is matched to a resident to provide a degree of continuity for the resident and to help develop a relationship of trust.

Other appropriate volunteer activities may also be offered within this role, such as providing telephone support to residents.

What might the role involve?

In this role you might:

call at your designated resident's home on a weekly basis to pick up a shopping list (food, household basics, everyday items), collect the shopping from local shops and deliver it back to the resident
if requested, help the resident put the shopping away
collect prescriptions for the resident from a local pharmacy (if requested)
post a letter or parcel for the resident (if requested)
report back to your designated staff point of contact after each visit to confirm the visit took place and discuss any concerns you may have about a resident or about your volunteering
allow time for a friendly chat with your resident
drive the resident to and from an appointment
provide telephone support to residents

Would this role suit you?

No formal qualifications are needed but to enjoy the role you'll need to:

be aged 18 or over with a warm and friendly disposition and a positive outlook
be reliable, dependable, honest and trustworthy
be available for a couple of hours on the same weekday each week
Ideally, but not essential, have your own transport (not needed for the telephone support volunteering)

Why volunteer in this role?

By volunteering as a Good Neighbour Support Volunteer you will be a friendly face at the door each week to get shopping for a vulnerable Plymouth resident and to stay for a friendly chat. Your visits will help combat loneliness and help the resident to feel more connected with their community, perhaps also allowing them to stay independent in their own home for longer.

You'll also be putting your skills and experience to good use and developing them.

Find out more about what's involved, watch Jo talk about being a Good Neighbour Support Volunteer on YouTube.

Training and support

Full induction and training are given at the start of your role, and you will have ongoing support throughout from our volunteer coordinator.

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against all support volunteers will be conducted at no cost to you.

Reasonable travel expenses can be reclaimed.

You are, of course, free to stop volunteering at any time.

We welcome your application. Upon receipt, we'll give you a call for an initial chat in case you have any further questions about the role and whether it will suit you.

Apply to be a Good Neighbour Support Volunteer

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