Become a Good Neighbour ACRE and District Council are developing Good Neighbours schemes across . The schemes will offer practical help to older people, whether it’s collecting a pension or a repeat prescription, walking the dog, getting a lift to the shops, or just changing a light bulb.

The benefits For someone volunteering their time, the scheme is a chance to:

◼ Get involved with your community and do as much or as little as you want. ◼ Meet new people who you might not have met otherwise, including those from different generations. ◼ Make use of whatever time you have to spare as well as particular skills you may have, such as IT or gardening expertise

◼ Give them the opportunity to meet new people and make friends ◼ Stop them from feeling they are ‘bothering’ neighbours if they need to ask for help frequently

◼ Help them 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

◼ Learn new skills such as minibus driving, health and safety and befriending. ◼ Find out overleaf how your scheme can benefit from linking up with Daventry Area Community Transport (DACT) including their Travel Club Minibus driver training.

Funding of up to £1,000 is available to groups looking to set up a Good Neighbours Scheme!

We’ll offer an overview of how it could work for your community group, residents group or Parish Council as well as providing guidance on establishing if there is a demand for the scheme in your area. You’ll also receive a toolkit and support on how to get it up and running. When you sign up to the Good Neighbour Scheme, you’ll have the opportunity to become a member of DACT’s Travel Club! DACT are the main provider of community transport and mobility services in the district and can help with the following:

They can provide door-to-door transport to people in local communities who can’t use mainstream public transport

Access any kind of medical appointment through its volunteer car scheme You’ll join the Village Travel club for the purpose of arranging transport for club members

Help a Good Neighbour Scheme set up it’s own Travel Club

They also provide MiDAS training for all volunteer minibus drivers.

Moulton Parish Council launched their scheme in April 2017 and Braunston, Crick and are in the process of setting one up.

For more information contact Daventry District Council on 01327 871100 or Northamptonshire ACRE on 01604 765888