Service description
Fulham Good Neighbours, funded by H&F, delivers practical neighbourly support for older people in Fulham, including befriending for the housebound, home decorating, small DIY jobs and gardening, escorting, transport and social activities.
Funding until
30 September 2023
Annual funding level
£45,000
What this service achieved in the last year...
Number of residents supported
241
Use of volunteers
Number of volunteers involved: 76
Number of volunteer hours delivered: 1,600
Value of volunteer hours provided: £15,600
Outcomes/impact for residents
- 86% of users reported above-average emotional wellbeing
- 58% felt they had good social networks, with 86% feeling less isolated
- 71% reported they were using time more meaningfully
- 72% reported above-average physical wellbeing, with 78% motivated and confident
- 86% reported above-average levels of independence
- In partnership with Smart Energy GB, Fulham Good Neighbours ran 10 workshops for local groups of older people, increasing awareness of smart meters and spreading word of the work other organisations do
User feedback/comments
“Just to say your volunteer who took me to the hospital was so nice and informed. I was very happy talking to him, I felt totally comfortable, and found him to be very polite and courteous.”
“Thank you for doing my garden. It is really nice to look out of my window and not feel depressed.”
Funding raised
£616,758 through external fundraising and rental income.
Other achievements/future plans
- Fulham Good Neighbours celebrated its 50th anniversary with a commemorative booklet including reminiscences of the first five decades of the charity’s history
- In November 2016 it won best charity in H&F’s brilliant business awards
- It was the smallest charity ever shortlisted for the City of London Lord Mayor’s dragon awards, recognising gardening work for residents, with most volunteers coming from Assael Architecture
- Clive Domm, a volunteer for 20 years – and himself in his late 80s, received the Team London lifetime volunteering award from London Mayor Sadiq Khan
- To combat loneliness, the service has launched new activities and social clubs for local older people
- In 2017 the service began a weekly shared reading group, and a second monthly Silver Club. It has made Rosaline Hall homelier for older people by replacing furniture, bought a small van for the gardening and decorating project, helped organise the Parsons Green Fair, and set up a project supporting over 85s on discharge from Charing Cross Hospital.