Tag Archives: Norfolk
Norfolk charity to pioneer care home volunteers scheme
Norfolk charity to pioneer care home volunteers scheme
Volunteer Mary Knights, right on one of her visits to see Thorpe St Andrew pensioner Beryl Forkes. Photo: Steve Adams.
Mark Shields Thursday, September 5, 2013
5:36 PM
A new scheme being pioneered by a Norwich-based charity could see the lives of care home residents enriched by visiting volunteers.
The programme will see volunteer activity coordinators placed in homes to get residents relieve pressure on care staff and allow unpaid workers to take responsibility for getting residents involved in social activities.
Norfolk County Council and Voluntary Norfolk, the two bodies behind the scheme, believe it could not only help older people to get more out of life but help the next generation of professional carers to develop.
The coordinators will start work at some private care homes in north Norfolk next month, and though they will be specifically trained for the role, they will not replace paid staff or do any of their duties.
Linda Rogers, Voluntary Norfolk’s head of operations, said: “While placing volunteers in private care homes is something of a new step, many of Voluntary Norfolk’s existing volunteers already help older people in the community with social and leisure activities, so to some extent the new scheme is an extension of something that we know works well and is greatly appreciated.
“The new scheme will benefit the residents, the volunteers themselves and, we hope, the caring profession in years to come.”
Families come together at Nelson’s Journey memorial walk at Blickling Park
Families take part in Nelson’s Journey first memorial walk. Picture: Bigphatphotos
Lucy Clapham Sunday, September 1, 2013
3:34 PM
Families united by grief came together in north Norfolk to remember loved ones and share their experiences at a poignant memorial walk.
The event was the first of its kind organised by bereavement charity Nelson’s Journey, which supports children and young people across the county dealing with the death of a significant person.
More than 130 people took part in the 1.8 mile walk round Blickling Park yesterday, with many wearing specially printed t-shirts paying tribute to the loved one they had lost.
Organiser Sophie Berry, funding officer with Nelson’s Journey, said the charity had long wanted to host a memorial walk to help bring youngsters and adults together.