Good Neighbours Scheme

Good Neighbours Schemes are established and run by local people to provide day-to-day support for other residents who may need help on an occasional or regular basis.

The aim is to support neighbours to maintain a good quality of life, remain independent in their own homes if they wish to, and reduce their reliance on statutory health and care support systems.

How the scheme works

In order for a Good Neighbours scheme to work in a village, parish area or neighbourhood, we need at least one person from that area to volunteer as a co-ordinator. Their job is to match people who need help, with volunteers in the area who are willing to give that help.

The overall aim is to help vulnerable or older people with everyday tasks such as:

• dog walking and caring for pets during holiday or illness
• household tasks such as setting up televisions, changing light bulbs or batteries in smoke alarms
• help with shopping
• support filling in forms, writing letters, reading or using computers and the internet
• gardening
• befriending
• offering lifts to a GP surgery, clinic, hospital, day centre or other appointments

How it benefits communities

Good Neighbours schemes are a great way of bringing a community together to help everyone - both the local volunteers as well as the people they are helping.

For volunteers, the scheme is a chance to:

• get involved with your community and do as much or as little as you want - there’s no need to feel awkward if you can’t always help
• meet new people who you might not have met otherwise, including those from different generations
• make good use of whatever time you have to spare as well as particular skills you may have, such as IT or gardening expertise

The benefits for those being helped include:

• a chance to access support to complete jobs that may normally be difficult to do alone
• an opportunity to meet new people and make friends
• people no longer need to feel they are ‘bothering' neighbours if they need to ask for help frequently
• help people to stay in their own home for longer as they get older 
• soften the impact of losing local services such as the village shop or post office

The scheme aims to provide a social ‘safety net’ for the village or local area in which it is operating. Volunteers complete practical tasks (such as driving or shopping) and/or provide emotional support, such as befriending. 

They do not offer specialist care or play any role that should be left to professional, qualified services. Nor do they provide volunteers to carry out skilled tasks that are appropriate for qualified tradespeople.

Set up a scheme in your area

Working in partnership with Northants ACRE we can offer an overview of how a Good Neighbours scheme could work for your community group, residents group or Parish Council including:

• guidance on establishing if there is demand for a Good Neighbours scheme in your area
• a toolkit, based on national good practice, on how to run a Good Neighbours scheme
• support to get your scheme up and running

For more information, please contact Emma Parry, Community Projects Officer, on 0300 126 7000 or email [email protected].

Current schemes in West Northamptonshire

Last updated 20 March 2024