Burnage Good Neighbours has been based at Burnage Community Centre since 1977. Its life began as a job creation project sponsored by neighbouring Care Groups who saw a similar need in the Burnage area. It was firstly run by students as a project and then in 1978 control was passed over to a committee of founder members. A grant from social services in 1979 enabled the group to employ a part time co-ordinator. Now nearly thirty years later we are still her at the community centre offering our services.

At present we have over a hundred clients on our list, varying from a person who is visited nearly every day by a volunteer to the one off job of maybe changing a light bulb. I suppose visiting is the most important activity we undertake. It is sad to think that many elderly people do not see or speak to another person for days. It’s not much to ask just to call in and chat, make a cup of tea and brighten up somebody’s day. We also carry out many other tasks. We escort people to hospital appointments, collect shopping or pensions when a client is unable to do so. Once a week a volunteer comes in and telephones housebound clients to have a friendly chat. We also arrange with Ring and Ride to take clients on shopping trips to some of the larger supermarkets.

It is fortunate that we are based here in the community centre as we are able to access any activities taking place here and assist our clients to attend. We also have arranged events in partnership with other agencies and have had events which inform people about things such as crime reduction, aids and adaptations, PALS nurses, bereavement councillors, cancer care, accessible transport. We held an information morning with greater Manchester fire and rescue service that came along and passed on information and then went to clients houses and fitted smoke alarms with ten year batteries and gave clients a plan on how to leave their homes in the event of a fire. This service was open to all age groups and is still available. At the moment we have received funding to carry out a pilot gardening project which is available to Burnage residents over 55 years living in private properties to cut back and maintain their front gardens in order that they are not vulnerable to bogus callers who may identify a home due to a neglected garden. We also arrange various outings for our clients taking them out for coach journeys and lunch there are many places suitable now with facilities for the less able-bodied. We are very resourceful and try to answer any request for help.

We can only do these things as a result of having good reliable volunteers. This year is actually the year of the volunteer and I would like to take this opportunity to ask any person in the area to volunteer and give any time they have to help. If any person requires more information about the gardening project, smoke alarms or any other service please contact our office.