Neighbours give a helping hand

The Arlesey Good Neighbour Scheme is set to launch on February 1, thanks to the help of Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity’s Rosie Kinde, and a Start Up Grant from Central Beds Council.

The group will see volunteers helping those in need – like the elderly or infirm – with everyday tasks like shopping, collecting prescriptions, dog walking, changing lightbulbs, transport to hospital appointments or even the odd game of draughts!

So far around 17 volunteers have shown an interest, but the group is still looking for a secretary to deal with basic admin, such as organising the volunteer rota.

Once up and running the group will also need to source its own funds.

One volunteer will be manning the phone each week, with the phoneline open between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday.

Chairman Ev Curtis said: “We want to help everybody who has a need and build up the links in the village. Arlesey is a very large village.

“The meeting next week will be our inaugural meeting before we go on steam on February 1.”

Anyone who would like to get involved in the scheme is invited to the meeting at the Vicars Inn in Arlesey at 7.30pm on Monday. Alternatively, they can email Ev at 
[email protected]

Volunteers will be CRB checked.

The phone line for anyone wishing to make use of the Good Neighbour Scheme is 07745 306089.