How to become a Good Neighbour volunteer and receive support as a local care provider or service user

Volunteers and micro care providers play a crucial role in supporting individuals to remain independent in their own homes. 

Remaining in one’s own home fosters a sense of familiarity and comfort, which is vital for mental and emotional well-being. It allows people to stay connected with their community, retain their routines, and live with a greater sense of autonomy. 

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Good Neighbour Volunteer Programme and Freedom Provider Scheme each provide invaluable support which is essential to those who may struggle with many things including mobility, health issues and social isolation. 

Joining the East Riding of Yorkshire Good Neighbours Volunteer programme 

The East Riding of Yorkshire Good Neighbours Volunteer programme is delivered by Humber & Wolds Rural Action to support residents staying in their own homes for longer, delaying the need for regulated care and residential care.  

Support provided by volunteers can include, shopping, cooking, cleaning, transportation and support with medical appointments, social activities, dog walking, gardening, light DIY, admin tasks and befriending. 

The Good Neighbour Volunteer programme aims to support existing and new independent voluntary groups. Some of the support on offer includes: 

• Funding for volunteer expenses and running costs (e.g., mobile phone costs, DBS checks) 
• Help to coordinate or recruit volunteers or with volunteer management 
• Guidance to help with the activities or documents needed 
• Links with sources of support for residents who require evolving or additional support 

A Good Neighbour volunteer said: “After retiring I realised that social contact is very important. I have lived in Brough 10 years and my voluntary role started as just helping a neighbour with a job, now I’m recognised in the area and have supported about 60 residents with DIY, cleaning, and garden work. It has been very rewarding.” 

If you are interested in learning more you can visit: Good Neighbour Schemes – East Riding of Yorkshire | HWRCC. Email: info@hwrcc.org.uk or phone: 01652 638814.  

To find out more about voluntary opportunities see: Volunteer Good Neighbours.pdf 

East Riding of Yorkshire Good Neighbours Volunteer Scheme is funded through UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Communities & Place 

Joining the Freedom Provider Scheme  

The Freedom Providers scheme delivered by Yorkshire In Business, gives training and employment opportunities to those that want to set up as a micro provider as well as provide care and support to residents in their own homes.  

Micro-providers are small businesses that operate typically with less than five employees providing costed services to residents. These services can include, but are not limited to, home maintenance, cleaning, gardening, companionship, dog walking, shopping, meal preparation and personal care. 

To begin with the support provided will be non-regulated, and the scheme will support and ensure the providers are appropriately set up to provide these services.  

The scheme will support the development of micro providers by providing specialist care advice with mentoring, training, business advice and peer support. 

Samantha Collinson became a micro provider, setting up her own cleaning business Neat and Sweet through the support of the Freedom Providers project. Samantha said that the programme ‘’helped her to understand everything’’ and that ‘’all of the information is there.’’  

Samantha receives support in the form of advice and access to resources with the team helping her to create her logo and business cards, adding that the scheme is ‘’Absolutely brilliant! It’s like talking to friends.’’ 

If you are interested in learning more you can visit: https://www.freedomproviders.co.uk/ Email: info@freedomproviders.co.uk or phone: 01262 213155.