Author: Laura

Energy Know How Case Study

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community

We have spent a lot of March focusing on one of our target areas, Swinton. We popped over to one of the Crafty Ladies gatherings to find out what sort of questions they had around energy and the upcoming price rise. Although it was a small group, it was a very engaging group who had a lot of questions on how to be more efficient, how to be savvier with the current energy market and what services we offer.

We referred most of them (ones who were interested) for a Green Doctor home visit as they advised they had the older energy saving lightbulbs, they now understand that Energy Saving LED light bulbs use 90% less electricity than standard ones. We talked about heating habits and learned as a group that a lot of us have radiators on external doors and would benefit from having foils installed.

This group were eager to talk about energy efficiency and how old some of their appliances were. For example, using an electric hob instead of gas and making sure these appliances are efficient and not too old. As well as learning about water savings and what items they can get for free from Yorkshire Water to save them money on their water meters.

Making Our Money Go Further

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community

Client B had been a member at the Social Supermarket since last year. Although they were not ready to engage with any money support at the time they have kept in contact with the project. They recently had to submit their PIP review and were worried about doing this alone. They struggle to engage online and prefer doing things face to face. We signposted them to some drop-in sessions they could attend in person and even gave them a call on the day before they set off to the session to check they were okay. They gave us a couple of updates throughout the morning about how it was going and when we arrived at the Social Supermarket, we were told they had just dropped in on their way to post the form off and had the biggest smile you can imagine on their face. This been such a massive positive step forward for them.

Making Our Money Go Further

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community

There were a group of people waiting in the hall at the Unity Centre while I was there for the Job Club. I just started telling one of them why I was there and they all started listening in and asking questions. Neil decided to come along after his group and has started the process of signing up for the Pathways project to find employment. I spoke to him about green doctors and he has asked to book an appointment with them. We also spoke about other ways in which we can offer help. He doesn’t qualify for the fuel vouchers but he believes a family member does so we’ve helped them too. He has said that the others were daft not to come today but he is going to tell them about us and encourage them to join us at the next Job Club.

Connex Participant – Katie

Laura/ / Friendship Calls

Katie was referred to us early January 2022, she lives with her 2 daughters and lacks confidence due to mental abuse during her marriage. She says she is a binge drinker due to anxiety and depression and won’t answer the phone to unknown numbers.

Before we were able to make contact we sent a message agreeing a time for an initial call, this meant that Katie was prepared for the call and able to pick up. We also agreed via text that if her anxiety got the better of her and she was unable to physically pick up the phone we would keep trying.

During the initial phone call, although notably shaken Katie was very open and honest on the phone. She really wanted to get out and about again but didn’t know how to get over the massive hurdles that she faced. She told us about her love of upcycling and crafting. We spoke about small steps back to community involvement but this seemed so far off as her anxiety has kept her in the house for such a long time. We referred her to the Friendship call project and again agreed procedures with her so she knew in the first instance who would be calling. We also offered her the assistance of our Making Our Money Go Further & Energy Know How projects, making sure that procedures were in place in an effort to reduce anxiety and distress. As the initial call came to a conclusion Katie was already sounding more confident and was happy accepting help.

Our Volunteer has established contact and called Katie at an agreed time each week. She has gone from strength to strength, she is now answering the phone to unknown numbers and getting the help she needs. Even after 1 week the difference was remarkable, it was like talking to a totally different person. Our volunteer has helped her through some tough situations by just listening. Katie recently had a massive panic attack in the supermarket but the help and support she received this just became a minor setback. Katie has received help from our other projects and now feels less worried about her financial situation and better equipped to manage.

Moving forward Katie has now found a friend who goes for walks with her. She has talked about a past love of open water swimming and is looking into this as something else she can do.

The transformation has been unbelievable, from a frightened, anxious, worried & isolated individual this lady is finding her wings, dusting off her crown and is ready to face the world head on once more.

Friendship Calls Participant – Jack

Laura/ / Friendship Calls

Jack has been a regular on the calls for almost 12 months now, he lives with mental health and physical pain, he does have some contact with family but nobody who he can just chat to. When Jack initially came to us he was attending an introduction to anxiety class and hoping to be able to do more in the community in the future.

John started on weekly calls but as he has started to get out a little he now checks in with his regular volunteer once a fortnight. They get on amazing as in the past the volunteer has had his own mental health issues so he is able to understand and show empathy and understanding. When they chat, they talk about many things and often put the world to rights. Jack really likes current affairs and likes to watch various news programmes which he likes to discuss. He likes that he can get different views on different situations and likes to stay open minded about things.

John is slowly starting to get out more now and goes on walks with his dog and sometimes with his sister, his OCD is improving and anxiety reducing, he says himself that the calls have been a lifeline and he really hopes that in the not too distant future he won’t require the calls. He says he will miss the volunteer but thinks it’s a step forward for him to not be in the house as much.

Friendship Calls: How Many Calls Would You Like To Make?

Laura/ / Friendship Calls

We always appreciate our volunteers whether they make 1 call or 6 a week, every call is providing a lifeline for a participant that is lonely or isolated.

Recently a new volunteer came forward, she was very enthusiastic and asked for 5 calls on week one! We did want to start her off lower so we agreed to 2 calls to see how she got on, by 11am on Monday she had made the calls and sent through her logs, said she absolutely loved it and could she please take on some more. This happened to be perfect timing as one of our other volunteers had taken ill and was unable to make their calls that week, so another 3 calls were added.

Since that first week Fiona has gone from strength to strength, she loves dedicating her time to the calls and has said it has in fact made her a better person, she told me the other day that her daughter had told her that mummy was a nicer person now she was volunteering and calling people. Fiona has two children and finds herself at a loss during the day, she says this has given her a new sense of purpose and she has made many friends during the calls that have helped her more than she can say.

Fiona now makes up to 15 calls a week, including one skype call. She can be on the phone for hours at a time, we do check in with her often to ensure that that number of calls is still enjoyable and do-able. She says she will certainly shout up if anything changes, right now she is just happy to be making a difference.

Friendship Calls: Much More Than Just A Call

Laura/ / Friendship Calls

Whilst we are very clear with those that refer to us, and to the participants themselves, that the service we offer is a Friendship Call. A friendly voice and a listening ear, we are more than aware that our volunteers and staff go above and beyond to enable us to provide the amazing service that we do.

We currently have two ladies receiving regular calls from Volunteers, both unfortunately have a diagnosis of cancer. Our two volunteers have stayed with these ladies throughout their ups and downs and provided that light relief that the ladies need, a reliable, non-judgemental conversation. The volunteers and the ladies are proving to be an inspiration and just goes to prove we are so much more than just a call.

We as a service check in on our Volunteers often as we know that these are not easy calls to make sometimes.

Ferham Community Skip Day

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community

Rotherham West ward councillors and RMBC Neighbourhoods hosted the Ferham Community skip day on Thursday 24th February. This was supported by staff from RotherFed, Rema as well as other RMBC teams. The skip is the next step in tackling the fly tipping and litter in the area after the success of the bin amnesty event last year. In the run up to the event every resident received a leaflet containing the time, date and what items couldn’t be taken in the skip and on the day a shout out was put on the areas Facebook page reminding residents of the event.

The skips were funded by the local councillors through their ward budgets. Provisions were made that any resident that couldn’t remove the rubbish from their homes due to ill health could book an appointment for the caretakers to collect this from outside their homes and bring it down to the skip on their behalf. There was also a door knock on the day this ensured that everybody in the area could benefit from the day and remove any rubbish they had. 

During the 3-hour event, residents filled two walk in skips of household rubbish like old sofas, mattresses and general garden waste, and two loads of scrap metal was taken to be recycled. Resident came together with workers and helped each other to get larger items down to the skips and to fill the skips bringing the community together and making Ferham a nicer place to live. During the event approximately one hundred residents participated and disposed of their rubbish

Heart of the Community – Meeting with Volunteers

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community

This project has started with a big focus on uncovering little acts of kindness, people giving their time within communities to help others. This approach means that we are having conversations with people and uncovering those that are already proactive within their neighbourhoods, one of these people is one of the residents of Canklow.

New to the estate, in terms of how certain residents feel, Dayle moved to Canklow about 13 years ago. She cares for her disabled partner full time but wants to do more within the village to help people come together and make more of a sense of community.

She has been involved in the creation of the new community group Wooly Kuddles. The aim of this group is to bring people together to learn and share ideas of how to knit and crochet, as well as giving group members a space to go to, to get away from their regular routine and giving them an activity where they can achieve something tangible. Dayle has got loads of ideas for community activity, her biggest idea is for a weeklong project called “Love tha Neighbour”. This would be a project that would be encouraging the residents of Canklow to engage in little acts of kindness. We discussed various ideas of activity that could be done that week, one was having a World picnic where everyone brings and shares food that is important to them, this could be something cultural or just something that reminds them of their past.

Heart of the Community Road Show

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community

We have begun our roadshows with partners and community groups this month. Firstly we have worked with several groups the first of note being the RNN group. We were able to host a stand in daytime hours and was invited to a volunteer event at the college. Over the 2 roadshows with the RNN group we were able to secure 22 pledge cards and micro volunteer helpers and 37 recipients of acts of kindness. We have been able to create a positive relationship with Chloe Spafford, who oversees community social action activities through the college. We have also hosted roadshows within the Wharncliffe area for which we have recorded 15 pledges and have begun speaking with 4 potential volunteers.

We followed up and created a meeting with 2 residents from our roadshows. Ben does not want to be turning up at events he wants to “lead events” and take charge of community activities. So we will collaborate with Ben to promote the idea of a community hub across the Masbrough area. Ben has agreed for us to send him a volunteer form and we are exploring the area for community assets. Ben has specifically shown interest in hosting cooking lessons, getting involved in RMBC scrutiny panels and interacting with services for the area. Emily is looking to host social events such as coffee morning with potentially other activities such as crocheting and is also interested in RMBC scrutiny panels. It was a very positive meeting and we have set an estimated time to meet again.

Our roadshows are proving that there are engaging in little acts of kindness in their daily lives but also those who want to find a way to get into volunteering. Building on this we contacted and met with Marie Shadwick from the DWP and are now actively working with the DWP at events in Rotherham.

Our roadshows are proving to be a real asset to the project in speaking with residents highlighting the little acts of kindness and attracting residents who want to become involved in volunteering.