Manchester Neighbourhood Care Group Association

Welcome to Manchester Neighbourhood Care Groups Association. Thank you for visiting us, we hope you will find our site both helpful and informative.

The Care Groups provide support for older people and adults with other specific difficulties. We are only able to deliver our services free of charge as a result of our tremendous volunteer network. Our volunteers work with the Care Group Co-ordinators to provide a vital service to older people and adults in need in Manchester. The service includes essential provisions such as a befriending and visiting service, emergency food shopping, transport to hospital appointments, wheelchair pushing, day trips, exercise and art classes, and coffee mornings. All these services are designed to reduce isolation and loneliness and increase independence.

Loneliness and isolation are major problems which affect 17% of older people in the UK today. This means 17% of older people regularly go for more than a week at a time without any contact with friends and family. A 2004 report called ‘Grey Matters: growing older in deprived areas’ by the New Philanthropy Capital revealed that poverty affects 2,300,000 older people in Britain, that is 21% of all pensioners in the UK today.

These problems will not go away on their own. Groups such as ours need the support of our communities, local organisations and businesses, and individuals. Together we believe we can make a BIG difference to the quality of people’s lives! Maybe we can also make a difference to you too.... Many of our volunteers tell us what a difference volunteering with us has made to them. In a recent CSV report, 48% of volunteers who helped older people said they felt less depressed as a result. 56% said they felt less stressed. If you think you could spare just a small amount of your time, we would love to hear from you.