Other Services

Support

In addition to the Community Car scheme, we can offer an informal support service providing one to one support to help people retain independence in their own homes.

Working mainly with the elderly or housebound our small band of volunteers visit people in their own homes and assist with a range of non domestic tasks such as form filling, making appointments, dealing with correspondence and running errands. We can offer an escorted shopping service to those who have difficulty getting out alone and dog walking on a short term basis.

Our befriending services are available to anyone in the community needing support on a regular basis or during a difficult time, perhaps for example, following a period of illness. Like all our services, our ability to help is dependent upon the availability of a suitable volunteer; for people requiring specialist or professional help we can sign post to other statutory and voluntary organisations . If you would like some help for yourself, a family member of friend or want to volunteer as a "Befriender", please contact Tracy or Karen at the Volunteer Centre.

The befriending service is completely free of charge, although donations are always welcome.

The Volunteer Centre also provides other services including:

A photocopying service for other local charities and organisations. There is a small charge for this service to cover costs.

Information on a variety of community, health and welfare services

Help to anyone new to the areas requiring information on local services

A wide range of public transport leaflets

Details of other local voluntary organisations

A cup of tea and a chat!

Citizens Advice Bureau operate a surgery from our office between every Friday between10.00am and 12.00 noon - their website can be found at http://www.nesuffolkcab.co.uk/

In addition to the regular CAB advice sessions which are held at the Volunteer Centre, we have an adviser based at Dragonflies Children’s Centre, Wissett Road, Halesworth every third Tuesday of the month, from 9.30am to 1pm. This service is drop-in, no need for an appointment, and is available for all members of the community, not just those with children attending the centre.

The CAB outreach service is part of the Waveney Advice Services Partnership, which provides a generalist adviser at 9 different venues across North East Suffolk. We hope that providing the service in the smaller towns and villages will enable people to get the information and advice that they need closer to home. For more information, please contact Jane Tighe, Project Co-ordinator, 01502 525859, or refer to our website, nesuffolkcab.org.uk

In addition to the CAB advice services, the WASP project is also running a series of networking events to bring together agencies and organisations who offer information and advice, to share their experiences and discuss local issues. The next networking meeting will have a housing theme, and is being held at the Patrick Stead Hospital on 13th May. Any organisation interested in attending should contact Jane Tighe, as above. A further public advice event in Waveney is being planned for July, details to follow.

Local trained life coaches, who can offer guidance and support, to help you make the most of life and build new skills essential for personal development and progression.

For more info see www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk