The Walford Community Support Scheme is in existence to support anyone who is vulnerable in the Parish of Walford. This includes those requiring help on a temporary or long-term basis. From the busy mum who is unable to drive due to surgery with one or more youngsters to take care of, to the elderly neighbour whose family has moved away and is feeling lonely because they cannot get out as much.

As the Scheme is about to start its fourth year a competition was held with Walford Primary School for the children to design a poster for the relaunch campaign. The standard of entries was incredibly high.

Lottie Ledger was successful for the Infants and Matthew Coley was the winning entry for the Juniors. Their amazing and inventively designed posters will be displayed around Walford and the surrounding areas.

Although the Scheme is actively helping a number of Walford Parish residents already, Scheme Coordinator, Sarah Hayes said the team believes that there are many more people who are not aware of the services they offer. She urges people to get in touch, in complete confidence, if they are worried about family members or friends.

The vision for the Scheme is that it will help fill in the gaps left by the removal of many services that previously provided a lifeline in particular to rural areas. The rural status of the Parish, as well as an ageing demographic, means that more members of the community are left on their own, as their families move away to study and find work.

Sarah said: “One of the most prolific issues we have encountered through the Scheme is the devastating effect loneliness can have on a person. Studies have proven that isolation can have a similar impact on one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So, we provide activities, outings, coffee mornings, as well as a befriending service, to help combat the debilitating effects isolation is known to induce.

“Last year, we launched our popular scheme of events – What’s on Walford – or WoW – which saw our service users take part in floral demonstrations, lunches, Christmas & Summer socials, trips on the Cotswold Steam Railway amongst many other social events. We also enjoyed a collaboration with Walford Primary School, where some of our Service Users were able to enjoy lunch with the Children of Class 4, both parties learning about the differences between their respective childhoods.”

The Scheme was founded in April 2016, it now actively helps 28 people and has 26 volunteers. They regularly provide in excess of 40 volunteer hours-worth of support per month.

There is no minimum commitment required in order to become a volunteer. Any offers of volunteer time is gratefully received however seldom or often you can manage. If you live in the Parish of Walford and would like assistance, concerned about someone living in the Parish or would like to volunteer, please contact Sarah on 07493 171 430 or email her at [email protected]