Walford Community Support Scheme held its very first social gathering in Walford on Wednesday, December 6th.

Local businesses, volunteers and service users of the Scheme, all joined forces for an evening of seasonal celebration, as well as spreading further awareness of the Scheme. Volunteers Guy and Sheila Pulfer, owners of Lower Wythall B & B on Bulls Hill, also very generously opened their beautifully festive premises and donated their time, not to mention their hospitality, for the evening.

The Community Support Scheme supports anyone who is vulnerable in the Parish of Walford. This includes those vulnerable on a temporary or long term basis.

With drastic cuts to many services that previously provided a lifeline it is hoped the Scheme can help fill in the gaps by providing shopping trips, appointment transport, assistance with computers or paperwork and befriending.

The Scheme started in April 2016 and the first six months was spent setting up the administration side and getting the correct structures in place as well as recruiting a base of volunteers. In November 2016 the first service user sign up and they have now actively helped 24 people in the community and have 25 volunteers.

One of the most prolific issues they have encountered through the Scheme is the devastating affect loneliness can have on a person. Studies have proven that isolation can have a similar impact on one’s health as smoking.

One of the Scheme volunteers visits a lady with severely advanced stages of Dementia. The Scheme volunteer is her only visitor, other than her carers, who often only have the time to deal with essential needs, rather than her social ones. This lady very often doesn’t know why she is living where she is, even though she’s been there for in excess of 15 years, but she always recognises the Scheme’s volunteer, who’s been visiting since January of this year.

Another great success story the Scheme has achieved is the creation of a group of male friends in Walford. The volunteers refer affectionately to these chaps as WOBs – or Walford Old Boys! Three gents who previously didn’t know each other are now firm friends and have enjoyed trips to museums, pubs and to Oxford.

The Walford Community Support team are looking to put a programme of social events together over the course of next year. Ranging from artistic workshops to pub nights to day trips, which they hope will hold universal appeal across existing and potential users.

They hold coffee mornings once a month at the rear of St Michael and All Angels Church in Walford. This is a chance for service users and volunteers to socialise and they are well attended with a great atmosphere. All are welcome on the second Tuesday of every month.

The most important people in the Scheme are its fabulous volunteers. Their tireless assistance and support is all given with great generosity and good humour, it simply would not function without them. The Walford Community Support team are extremely grateful for their hard work.

If you are a resident of the Parish of Walford, and need assistance, please contact the Community Support Scheme Coordinator, Sarah Hayes on 07493 171 430 or you can email: [email protected].