{"id":62574,"date":"2025-02-27T14:35:17","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=62574"},"modified":"2025-02-27T14:41:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:41:06","slug":"sheffield-charity-expands-good-neighbour-scheme-to-doncaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/02\/27\/sheffield-charity-expands-good-neighbour-scheme-to-doncaster\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheffield charity expands Good Neighbour Scheme to Doncaster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Sheffield based charity has expanded one of its longest running schemes to Doncaster in a bid to combat loneliness and isolation among older people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care\u2019s \u2018Good Neighbour Scheme\u2019, provides older people in the local area with befriending support in their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scheme relies on a network of volunteers from across South Yorkshire who provide companionship and support to the elderly. They help in various ways, including home visits, weekly telephone chats, and assistance in day-to-day challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ericka Hill, award winning fundraiser and Marketing and Communications Officer for SCCCC, said: “This scheme has grown and grown, and we\u2019ve helped thousands of people.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The expansion to Doncaster follows the success of the Home from Hospital<\/em> scheme, which the charity launched in partnership with Doncaster Royal Infirmary in 2023. The four-week service supports people returning home from hospital and is designed to help them stay connected and maintain their independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInstead of readmitting themselves to hospital, the scheme helps to keep older people in their homes and give them the confidence to live independently. But after the four weeks, we felt like we couldn\u2019t provide any input. That\u2019s what we want, at the end of the day \u2013 for them to be happy in their homes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The time restrictions of the Home from Hospital<\/em> scheme led to the local charity expanding their Good Neighbour<\/em> scheme to Doncaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe knew how well the Good Neighbour Scheme<\/em> was going in Sheffield, so we decided we needed to look at running it in Doncaster. It\u2019s only been running for two months and now we\u2019re recruiting volunteers to visit the people we\u2019ve met on the Home from Hospital<\/em> scheme \u2013 it keeps them connected and gives them something to look forward to,\u201d Ericka said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On the blog: Loneliness: as bad for you as 15 cigarettes a dayhttps:\/\/t.co\/LHDxaXH43g<\/a> #NoOne<\/a> should have no one. pic.twitter.com\/uhGM8TvIQC<\/a><\/p>— Age UK (@age_uk) November 2, 2015<\/a><\/blockquote>