CASTLE DONINGTON VOLUNTEER CENTRE
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Mission Statement
To improve the lives of those in our community
About This Cause
What we do – A summary (December 2024) Castle Donington Volunteer Centre is a charity that has over 40 years of experience supporting the community of Castle Donington and surrounding villages, an area with a significant proportion of elderly and disabled residents within North West Leicestershire. Initially started to provide a “Meals on Wheels” service we now provide a range of services for the benefit of residents. We simply aim to help to make local life easier. We support a wide range of people, in particular those that are older, disabled or infirm as well as local groups (sports clubs, art groups, lunch clubs) and similar minded organisations. We have a large number of volunteers supported by a small staff team who coordinate our services. We do not differentiate on any basis against who we help be it gender, race, age, political etc. We provide services within Castle Donington, Hemington, Lockington, Kegworth, Cavendish Bridge, Sawley Marina, Diseworth, Long Whatton, Breedon, Wilson, Tonge and Isley Walton Volunteering As a community organisation we rely heavily on our volunteers who contribute over 10,000 volunteer hours of every year. Volunteers are at the very heart of our work and as we develop and expand services we always have opportunities for all types of people and skills. We have a range of roles from being a bus driver or passenger assistant to gardening, cooking and serving food to office administration, IT and reception tasks. We continue to offer opportunities to people who have the need for a community opportunity to seek stability and a purpose to re-balance their lives. Community transport Transport is the enabler of our service. We have 4 minibuses all adapted to be wheelchair accessible which provide a lifeline to those with limited mobility. We provide weekly shopping trips, social trips to popular venues including garden centres, restaurants; and access to a variety of clubs and activities for the elderly, disabled and infirm. They are used to transport to and from sports, arts and educational events including School support. Our minibuses are also available for private hire, with a volunteer driver, for social and sporting events. GrowCookShare GrowCookShare is what it is, we grow food on our own allotments, cook monthly meals and then serve a 3 course meal to a number of elderly clients. This is a cross community project that provides people with the opportunity to plant and tend produce in our allotments, produce 3 course meals and, importantly, provides our clients with a hearty meal whilst socialising with friends. Our bus fleet ensures that whatever the weather our guests are collected from and returned to their homes as required. We see benefit for the guests and volunteers alike. Friday Group This is a weekly Friday afternoon social group that arranges a schedule of music, talks, quizzes and outings for the elderly. Our aim is for this to be a friendly supportive group run to meet the needs and suggestions of those involved. Speakers are invited from the local council, police and other local services as well as guide Dogs, RSPCA, National Trust, local authors, companies and groups. It is an opportunity to meet old friends, make new friends and enjoy chatting and laughing together. Drinks and cakes are always on offer. There is a membership of approx. 35 people in the group. Dial-A-Ride – Our Shopping Service We run a number of weekly buses to supermarkets for those who have difficulty using public transport, each is wheelchair accessible. Dial-A-Ride is simple – a client chooses their destination and the date they want to go from the list below, call us and we book them onto the bus. On the day of travel, the bus picks the client from home, take them shopping and then drop them to their door. The buses have two fully-trained Volunteers working on them – a Driver, and a Passenger Assistant who will assist including ensuring heavy shopping is delivered to the door. A cafe stop in store is essential to give shopping flexibility and provide a chance to chat. Tuesdays - Castle Donington ALDI Wednesdays - Long Eaton ASDA. Thursday - Castle Donington Coop Friday - Coalville Morrisons Medical Car Scheme Our Medical Car Service is for patients registered with the Castle Donington Surgery. The free service operates using our volunteer drivers in their own cars to transport eligible clients to medical appointments, including GP Surgeries, hospitals, clinics, dentists and opticians. This is on a dial a ride booking system and for short appointments the driver will stay on site, longer appointments may need a second car to complete a pick up to deliver them safely home. Where needed for wheelchair and immobile clients our buses will be used. We do ask clients to consider making a donation to assist where they are able to help fund this service. Easy Movers Easy Movers is designed for people who are new to exercise, may be older, recuperating from ill health or an operation. The class is seated and led by a professional instructor. Our twice weekly class now attracts a group of c. 30 people in 2 locations who benefit from the flexibility exercise and a chance to mix and chat afterwards. Help@Hand We assist with advice or a “job service” to those clients who need assistance with a small task. We are able to complete or advise on form filling, sort out phone and laptop resets, change batteries and light bulbs and in some cases will undertake gardening tasks. We will refer them to experienced advisors or recommended tradesmen as necessary. Day Trips Occasional trips to local sights and attractions such as the Peak District, Garden Centres, Markets etc. take place as special trips and are advertised locally to our known population. We are looking to encourage a wider selection of trips to include museums and businesses to seek to encourage a more balanced gender interest. GP Social Prescribing Initiative We are working with the Castle Donington GP Surgery to enable our services to be used for social referral. We have a number of volunteers past and present that have rebuilt their social skills and re-found their feeling of worth through their managed volunteering. This cooperation is also now identifying residents who need our social help. Updated : Dec 2024