Launched when the Covid pandemic first took hold, Nantwich Buddies is a group of 60 regular volunteers supporting circa 85 households with shopping, prescription collection and befriending.
The community group, managed by local podcast network RedShift Radio, received £1,150 from our Nantwich community fund so it could create a bespoke website to further promote its services including information on how to become a ‘buddy’.
Liz Parkin, founder of the group, said: “During its peak, Nantwich Buddies had 60 volunteers supporting 160 isolating households in Nantwich and Acton. During a period of less strict lockdown we also launched our ‘Street Ambassadors’ campaign, which involves our volunteers assisting anyone who may be struggling with returning to ‘normal’ and visiting shops.”
The website went live in November and since then 30 more volunteers have signed up.
“We have started to create a virtual volunteer conference too, which is a series of online workshops that will be open to anyone in the area that is a volunteer or would like to become a ‘buddy’,” adds Liz.
Linked to our Kingsbourne development in Nantwich, we’ve previously gifted £10,000 to community groups and good causes in and around the town. This new fund saw £5,000 shared between five groups.
Simon Bennett, interim sales director in the North West said: “The benefits that Nantwich Buddies has brought to the community are huge and will continue to be so. As a business Redrow has had to adapt to the challenges of Covid, but as individuals we’ve all had to adapt to new ways of living too and we can empathise with those who have had to shield or isolate. The work Nantwich Buddies does is life-changing in that respect and I am really pleased to see their website is live so they can continue with their valuable work.
Nantwich Buddies has provided well in excess of 3,000 volunteer hours since last March. The plan is to now provide volunteers with a series of badges or certificates so they can track and monitor their progress, including attendance at workshops such as Becoming a Dementia Friend, Mental Health First Aid, Basic Sign Language and Listening Skills.
To find out how you can become a Nantwich Buddy or the services they provide visit their new website: www.nantwichbuddies.org
For more information about us locally, see www.redrow.co.uk/kingsbourne
