GNN has always had in its DNA a natural inclination for collaboration and alliances working closely with the NHS, church, local government or other charitable organisations. On the ground Good Neighbours is all about local partnership and involvement, so it will come as no surprise to hear we continue to look for engagement and funding opportunities with appropriate projects. We were one of the first pilot schemes for social prescribing, recently ran a Department for Transport project focussed on loneliness and this year (2024) launched a Good Energy project, in partnership with the Home and Well project and funded by SGN.
This initiative is about helping us all to keep warm, stay safe and save money.
With two on the ground energy advisors, the basis of the project is to engage and inform as many people as possible about access to safe and affordable energy while providing a conduit to the wrap around services provided by Citizens Advice, Hampshire.
The offer includes access to free carbon monoxide alarms and hands on help to the Priority Services Register which is available for anyone over 65 or with children under 5 at home.
Here is a short interview with our advisors Siobhan and Stephen who share some of their personal reflections on positive energy:
Q. How important is ‘positive energy‘ to you?
A. The more I learn about it, the more I understand how important positive energy is. As a general term ‘positive energy’ is a way of explaining happiness, hope or good cheer. With reference to the project it’s about using energy well in our home and knowing what support is out there. So I think positive energy is really important because in both scenarios there is a sense of spreading hope, support and useful information.
Q. Tell me about the sort of skills you draw on to deliver the project ?
A. I always try to be creative and confident. It’s about getting the information out there in a way people want to interact with and having the confidence to consistently speak with new people and in front of lots of people. Along with this I think being empathetic and active listening is important. Sometimes after a talk people want to talk to you and tell you about some of the issues they are struggling with and in that moment I need to show that person I really value the privilege of hearing them and being able to help them.
Q. How has the good neighbours community responded to the project ?
A. The people I have spoken with have been really encouraged by the information we have shared and we have worked hard to listen to the group feedback and aim to provide resources to the groups that they have suggested would be beneficial for them. I’ve really enjoyed meeting the groups and chatting with all the different people. I’ve always been kept on my toes with questions and all the resources we bring to the sessions are always snapped up.
Q. What has been the most rewarding moment for you in this project so far?
A. I was talking to a lady in one group whose sister lives in a different county and has dementia. Although the project I am working on is specific to Hampshire I was able to signpost this lady to additional services offered by SGN and that her sister would be able to access. She was so grateful to know that there was this extra support available and there could be something in place to help her sister.
Q. What’s one thing you’d like people to understand about this project?
A. That there is something in the information we are giving out that is relevant to everyone.
Q. What does ‘positive energy‘ mean to you?
A. When I think about Positive Energy I think about riding my bike, I think about solar power, I think about friendships – the things that make life good. I also now think about my inflatable Power Ranger doll who accompanies me when I go out and about meeting people across Hampshire.
Q. Tell me about the sort of skills you draw on to deliver the project ?
Being part of the project is exciting because it requires creative thinking, talking with some wonderful people, and also getting a bit involved with data and excel spreadsheets… and these are all things I love.
Q. Has there been any unexpected interactions or outcomes ?
A. The creative challenge comes when responding to events as they unfold. Just before Christmas, tens of thousands of residents in southern Hampshire had their water supply cut off for several days. It was a nightmare for many neighbourhoods. I posted on my community Facebook group to mention the Priority Services Register to people so they could ensure that neighbours are made aware of it and can have an extra layer of support for the next time the water is cut…. or the gas or the electricity. I had such a positive response that I posted again on several more local groups, and then contacted nearby Good Neighbours Network groups suggesting that they could do similarly. The next three days saw our biggest concentration of registrations not only for the Priority Services Register, but also people ordering free Carbon Monoxide monitors.
Q. What has been the most rewarding moment for you in this project so far?
A. The reward comes when volunteers say how useful they find the information or an array of smiling faces at the end of a session, all saying how helpful it was, how comprehensive the information was and how everything was covered. And then you hear about some of the bigger changes that have come about from people engaging with the issues. About households receiving brand new gas boilers for free. About someone’s mother receiving a free electric heater from SGN days after registering for the PSR, because they were doing gas works in their lane. This stuff really makes a difference to people.
Q. What’s one thing you’d like people to understand about this project?
A. The one thing I would like for people to understand about the project is just how simple and helpful our messages can be. We’re not here to give one more thing to volunteers to have to remember. Volunteers invest their time and effort to help their neighbours they are super heroes. Positive Energy simply gives an added dimension to their Powers!
If you or your group are interested to find out more about the Good Energy project, please contact Siobhan or Stephen direct who will be happy to help.
2024 saw the return of the Good Neighbours Annual Event, the first since the pandemic.
Held in our favourite venue Kings Community Church, Hedge End for the ease of parking and great catering. the event was billed as ‘Positive Energy,’ highlighting our current Good Energy project and was sponsored by SGN. The highlight of the event for many was the speech and lively debate led by Max Prangnell, Director of External Affairs at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, (AoMRC), around the potential changes to the NHS. The results from the Re-imagining session were communicated back to NHS England and Max has written a short update below on how important that contribution was.
In late October ’24 I was pleased to be able to facilitate a really useful discussion about what people want from the forthcoming NHSE 10 Year Plan. The fact that I was standing in for a friend who had just gone down with Covid actually turned out to be a stroke of good luck. In large part because so many people had a view on what needs to happen to our health and care system to make it to return it back to pre-pandemic good health and sustainable in the longer term. And my friend, Professor Alf Collins has promised to come back this year. If you’ll have him.
The 10 Year Plan is the mechanism currently being worked on which is designed to enable three shifts in the NHS. The first being from hospital care to community care or care closer to home, the second being from reactive to preventative, that means moving the NHS from a service that doesn’t just treat illness, but one that also promotes wellness. The third shift being from analogue, using papers based-forms and faxes to digital services, like getting your repeat prescriptions via an app. There was hardly anyone who didn’t agree with the first priority and many guests suggested less travel, less stress and freeing up capacity on hospitals were something they’d happily support. Others talked about tackling burdensome bureaucracy and helping people access the right care in the right setting.
In the reactive to preventative part of the talk, there was a lot of focus on providing support for young families through reintroducing schemes such as SureStart or looking at the impact of social media on mental health issues. Many people spoke wisely (and passionately) about the need for the voluntary sector to be properly supported to assist those in need of non-urgent or in-direct care of the type so brilliantly done by GNN volunteers
There seemed to be overwhelming support too, for a fully digital NHS, but crucially one, that doesn’t require a PhD in computer science to use. Simple apps, better connectivity and investment in infrastructure were the order of the day.
The 10 Year Plan work itself is proceeding at speed and many of the suggestions you made have been fed in directly to the report’s author, Sally Warren. We are expecting the final plan to be published in the final week of May, but the team at NHS England were seriously grateful for the feedback provided at the event. The sandwiches were good too.
Max Prangnell
Director of Communications
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
The Bishop of Portsmouth also joined us and offered a heartfelt and meaningful thanks to all GNN volunteers.
Following the keynote speech there were short ‘workshop style’ sessions across a range of subjects including the all-important marketing and Positive Energy.
Stephen (Good Energy project facilitator) and a good neighbour, in one of the ‘workshop‘ session.
As a result of the marketing session, these top ten tips for marketing were later shared across the Network
BROUGHT TO YOU IN 295 WORDS
95% of the groups who responded were positive about the potential for a Young GNN scheme, with a clear 50% saying YES. As CSR develops promoting young people’s mental health and well-being, we hope to include a volunteer element – as we all know the connection between wellbeing and volunteering is a positive one.
85% of the groups were positive about a National GNN development, with 45% saying YES. The intention for 2025 is to explore developing a national offer, to enable a more sustainable future for the Network and create even greater reach.
With all the fluctuations to funding from local government the need for long-term funding is a hot topic for the Network – we are grateful to CSR for its current two year commitment and we now have in our arsenal, Vanessa Eden who joined us this year with a mission to help with long-term sustainability, here is a profile on Vanessa:
With over 25 years of experience in the charity sector, as well as time spent working in public service within the NHS and Police, I’ve dedicated my career to supporting causes that truly make a difference. From health and wellbeing to visual impairment and even animal welfare, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that strong, sustainable funding can have on the people and communities who need it most.
That’s what drew me to the role of Fundraising Manager for CSR which includes the Good Neighbours Network (GNN). I believe in the power of community and the incredible work that local Good Neighbours groups do every day—whether it’s offering a friendly chat, driving someone to an appointment, or simply being there in times of need. My role focuses on generating income to keep these vital services running, particularly by securing funding from Trusts and Foundations.
For funders, GNN offers a unique opportunity to invest in something both grassroots and life changing. Via this network of dedicated volunteers, every pound raised directly supports people in their own communities—reducing isolation, improving wellbeing and ensuring that no one is left without help when they need it.
Looking ahead to 2025, I have high hopes. I want to see GNN grow, reaching more people and securing long-term funding to ensure these essential services continue for years to come. My goal is to build strong relationships with funders who share our vision and to explore new way s to sustain and expand our work.
It’s a privilege to be part of something that has such a lasting, positive impact. Here’s to another year of strengthening communities, one neighbour at a time.
Vanessa
Many thanks to all of you who highlighted the acts of kindness from your groups for 2024, unfortunately we cannot showcase them all, but here are a few of the stories that really stood out.
We are Stella and Gordon Cunningham, long-time residents of Lovedean and retired volunteers from Rowans Hospice. This December, as we celebrate our 69th wedding anniversary, we find ourselves reminiscing not just about the years gone by but also about the incredible community support that has brightened our later years.
As we sit down to reflect on the immense support we’ve received from Horndean Volunteer Drivers, we feel a deep sense of gratitude.
After a decade of volunteering and contributing to our community, the wheel has turned, and we now find ourselves gratefully receiving support. Last year, I (Gordon) made the difficult decision to hang up my driving gloves for good, recognising that it was no longer safe for me to drive due to my increasing disability and other health concerns. This decision, though tough, was made easier knowing that we had the support of the Horndean Volunteer Drivers.
Led by the ever-efficient Chris and Ted, the Co-ordinators who orchestrate our appointments with the precision of a maestro, and powered by a small team of selfless volunteers, Horndean Volunteer Drivers have been nothing short of a blessing. Whether it’s helping us in and out of the car, driving us to various care groups, or simply ensuring we make it to where we need to go.
Their patience, kindness, and dedication allow us to maintain a semblance of independence, a gift that at our age, is priceless. Each ride is not just a drive; it’s an interaction filled with warmth and care, reminding us that the spirit of giving and receiving help is alive and well.
Stella and Gordon Cunningham
In January 2024 I started treatment for a medical condition that entailed 25+ appointments a year at Southampton General Hospital. Public transport was not appropriate and taxis, which are not always reliable, cost £60-£70 per return trip.
Discovering the Bishops Waltham Care Group early in 2024 was an eye-opener and a tremendous boost to me!
Driven door to door by a caring good neighbour, without worries about parking availability, is a real treat -I positively look forward to the conversations en route. This reliable neighbourly contact is incredibly important to me, having moved in my 70’s to a new area and living alone. The work the group do is tremendous and not to be underestimated!
From a grateful local
Bishops Waltham Care group
Homage to Simon Smith, a long time Good Neighbour, who has been driving local residents to Hospital, GP and health related appointments for over 40 years.
From April 2023 to March 2024, he made 211 trips totalling 1,897 miles.
Over the years Simon has generated thousands of miles of positive energy, made many good friends and always had regulars who request him. In September, unbelievable Simon was 80 and he has now hung up his ‘volunteer driver keys’ but remains a trustee for Eversley and Bramshill Trust ( a part of GNN).
Thank you Simon.
Eversley and Bramshill Trust
In 2026, GNN turns 50 – we will be celebrating our Golden Anniversary in style,
with a VIP guest and a cream tea event.
This will be a time for both celebration and reflection, as we consider all the millions of acts of kindness volunteers have contributed to their local communities over the 50 years, along with thanks to GNN staff, past and present and Golden Recognition Awards for a few nominated exceptional Good Neighbours.
Meanwhile we look forward to lots more Positive Energy in 2025, and please save the date for the
GNN EVENT 2025
Date: 9th October 2025
Time: 9.30am – 2pm
Location: Kings Community Church, Hedge End
