Sidmouth Help Link Achievements - 2002

This is a list of what we all worked together to achieve during the year:  

ü Help Link volunteers carried out tasks with individuals and families amounting to over 3,500 contact hours

ü      The Link’s information service handled more than 700 information enquires from the general public, professionals working in the community, students and other voluntary organisations

ü      33 new volunteers were recruited - 25 females and 8 males, spanning a wide age range

ü      There were nearly 100 befriending/visiting relationships - including those under the the new Telephone Link scheme using the phone and e-mail

ü      An Easter party and a Christmas Day lunch were arranged at the house of a Help Link volunteer and attended by the elderly and those with mobility problems

ü      Sidmouth Help Link enabled housebound people to attend social functions organised by the Sidmouth Lions, e.g. a pantomime outing, a trip to the theatre and a Christmas party

ü 3 mini bus outings were organised for elderly people with mobility problems - 'See The Bluebells' trip, a 'Country Lanes and Donkeys' trip to Branscombe and Weston and a trip to Otter Nurseries. We used a hired mini bus and a Help Link volunteer driver plus volunteer helpers. This is a new Help Link project and it appears to be very successful!

ü      Volunteers recruited by Sidmouth Help Link were placed with over 20 local voluntary organisations, including: -

ü      30 elderly people, adults with a disability and families were enabled to receive Sidmouth Round Table Christmas Hampers

ü      Volunteers working in or for the Help Link office and on Help Link committees contributed over 1500 hours of their time carrying out reception, clerical, computer and administration tasks

ü Information and/or promotional literature on other organisations were given out and referrals for help were made to the services of 22 other voluntary organisations

ü  Ongoing Volunteer support was maintained together with the production and circulation of 3 newsletters - The Volunteer - and 3 'Volunteer Vacancies Bulletins'. A Volunteers' Christmas Party was also held at The Community Partnership

ü      17 organisations used the photocopying and other office services

ü      Sidmouth Help Link staff and volunteers sat on the committees of Sidmouth Voluntary Services and the East Devon Volunteer Support Agency. They also participated in consultations with the public sector on issues involving the voluntary sector in East Devon

ü      New services were made available in The Community Partnership from August 2002 as part of the Help Link's continuing assistance to other Voluntary Organisations. A new brochure, 'Help for Voluntary Organisations', was also produced and distributed

ü      The third 'Therapeutic Bereavement Group' ran for 8 sessions during February/April. Positive feedback has been received from participants with some informal support continuing

Open: Tues and Wed 10am - 12am
Thurs 2pm - 4pm

Tel: 01395 514445
Fax: 01395 557647