Carlisle City Council and Electricity North West are delighted to announce a two-year partnership to set up a Community Neighbours scheme to support lonely and isolated residents in Carlisle and district.
The funding will be used to refresh a previously successful volunteer befriending project which creates one-to-one volunteer opportunities linking volunteers with elderly and/or disabled people experiencing loneliness and isolation.
The announcement of the funding links in with the upcoming Kind Cumbria Day (13 November), in support of International World Kindness Day. The Kind Cumbria Day is an initiative of the Cumbria Neighbourliness Network, the day is about promoting kindness publicised through social media and is being supported by many organisations.
Cllr Elizabeth Mallinson, Portfolio holder for Communities, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Community Neighbours volunteers can support elderly or disabled people in several ways including, shopping and running small errands, accompanied walks, companionship, dog walking and appropriate assistance to enable them to participate in activities or hobbies of their choice – at home or out in the community. Working closely with Electricity North West, the scheme will help recreate what worked so well in the past and enhance the project to support people in an even more effective way; helping both volunteers and people accessing the project for support help reduce fuel poverty and encourage energy efficiency.”
The project will link with the other services provided by the Home Improvement Agency, Homelife Carlisle. Homelife Carlisle provide specialist support and advice to elderly and disabled people, as well as those on low incomes, for maintaining, adapting and improving their homes.
Electricity North West is keen to identify customers who would benefit from extra help during a power cut. Being without power can cause difficulties to many customer groups. When a customer signs up to Electricity North West’s Priority Services Register (PSR), they can be offered extra support to keep them safe and comfortable until power is restored, Homelife will support this in the Carlisle area.
Once registered, Electricity North West will provide advanced notice of planned power cuts and in some instances can offer practical items such as hot food and drinks, blankets and torches during unplanned outages. If you or someone you know would benefit from getting extra help from Electricity North West’s Priority Service, you can sign up free of charge online or over the phone. Visit www.enwl.co.uk/priority or call 105. To find about more about the Community Neighbours and Homelife Carlisle, visit www.carlisle.gov.uk/homelife or call 01228 817111.
