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Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge and villages to have East Elloe Good Neighbour Scheme from November 16




Help for elderly, vulnerable and lonely people in Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge and the surrounding area will be just a phone call away from next week.

East Elloe Good Neighbour Scheme (GNS) is set to open on Monday, November 16, when trained volunteers will be ready to help with household tasks and offer friendship to those using the service from 9am until 4pm, Monday to Friday.

The aim of the scheme, also covering Fleet, Gedney, Sutton Crosses and Tydd St Mary, is to improve the lives of residents by helping them with form filling, letter writing, shopping, collecting prescriptions, choosing and returning library books, dog walking and gardening on a short-term basis.

Father Jonathan Sibley, Katy Gale and William Gray.
Father Jonathan Sibley, Katy Gale and William Gray.

Frank Heinrich-Tiller, East Elloe GNS spokesman, said: "A number of volunteers have come forward to offer their services as part of the scheme.

"The volunteers have received training and they are ready to take on tasks, however, we still need more volunteers to help us with the anticipated needs of the local community.

"Our services are primarily aimed at the elderly, disabled, vulnerable, frail, lonely and those living alone to whom help is given free, although a charge is made for transport costs."

Plans for a GNS to operate in the Suttons area first emerged in February this year after talks between Father Jonathan Sibley, vicar of St Mary’s Church, Long Sutton, Katy Gale, of Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Services, and William Gray, of Community Lincs/YMCA Lincolnshire.

Mr Heinrich-Tiller said: "The Good Neighbour Scheme has been set up by a number of key volunteers and supported by a grant from Lincolnshire County Council, with the grateful assistance and tremendous support from Community Lincs/YMCA Lincolnshire.

"A recent residents' survey established that there is a significant demand for the scheme in our area and that it will enhance the quality of life for residents.

"We are constantly looking at ways to complement the existing services we can offer to our residents and the local community and there are always

opportunities for voluntary community transport in the area by way of using additional volunteer drivers."

East Elloe GNS is available on 0800 999 1894, although volunteers will be limited to providing doorstep service only during the current lockdown when no transport will be available.



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