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Befriending Scheme Progress Report Oasis Befriending Scheme Project Progress Report The period to which this report relates 18th November 2002 - 30th June 2003 The Purpose for which we received the grant from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation The purpose of the grant was to cover the cost of a four-week Feasibility study and then to fund a six-month Pilot Project. The Feasibility Study and Pilot would involve employing a part-time organiser, to carry out the gathering of information through a number of methods to establish the question of need. Once the information had been processed and evaluated the organiser would produce a report, and then set up the initial workings of the Pilot Project. The main aims of the of the Oasis Befriending Scheme Project The main aims that have been met are as follows: The Feasibility study was conducted and completed. The findings of which concluded at that stage, were that the service would be of benefit to the residents of the Ore Valley. There were suggestions of need that came about partly from door to door canvassing in the area we cover to gather new clients and partly from established clients that Oasis had contact with. The Befriending Organiser devised a questionnaire (appendix 1), which was completed by 39 residents to date, with more still being send back and gathered. The six-month Pilot Project has provided home visits, outings, information provision, sign posting to service providers, hospital visits and volunteer opportunities. Needs we have met varied from giving company to the isolated, cleaning windows (which prevented one elderly lady with hip and heart problems from standing on a chair as she has done previously), advocated for a gentleman with a phone call to the Gas Board, to re-potting plants and changing duvet covers for a lady with a sprained wrist. We have gathered endorsements put forward by the residents who have recommended friends to the Befriending Scheme and service providers in the area who have also sign-posted residents who they feel could do with some extra support. The recruitment of volunteers to help with home visits is ongoing as the number of new clients increases to meet the demand. The collection of evidence that we have gathered over this short time period demonstrates there is a need to support bids for a long-term project for the Ore Valley. Information about the beneficiaries The beneficiaries of the project were those we originally identified in our Proposal Document, being people socially isolated, housebound, disabled, the elderly, those that are more vulnerable. We enclose a graph (appendix 2) to show how services are used by clients and numbers of times services are used, some clients would show up in more than one capacity if we have delivered several services to them. The majority of the residents that have either presented themselves or been referred have been elderly with quite a number having a disability. A lower number have been young parents who have multiple problems as lack of confidence, low income, debt problems, furniture needs and low self esteem. Assessment of the Project to date Firstly, starting with what has gone well with the project. We have been successful in engaging the residents at the earliest opportunity in the process of delivery and development through their active participation at the Feasibility stage by completing questionnaires and taking part in discussions in group activities also on a one to one with individuals. There has been regular reviews and monthly reports with the Befriending Organiser and the Oasis Co-ordinator with reports submitted to the Oasis steering group by the project organiser on the progression of the project, and on the occasions where a problem has been identified action has been taken and it has been resolved. Further to this, it would be an understatement to say that thus far the commitment to continue this approach has been well supported by all parties, who have had a hands on involvement in the day-to-day operations of the project whether they are paid or unpaid personnel, this will remain as an important aspect to the future development of this project. Once the leaflets were printed, (enclosed) they were distributed to established clients on our mailing list and organisations in the area and around Hastings with the aim of publicising the scheme and to recruit volunteers. While on a hospital visit, we left leaflets in various wards and notice boards, which resulted in a phone enquiry from a chap from the Accident and emergency department Social Services team who had shown an interest in the service. He enquired if we could go along to his next team meeting with a presentation of the Befriending Scheme with the aim that the face to face contact with his staff would be beneficial for them and us, this we did. The scheme was well received, resulting in two new clients being signposted to the Befriending Scheme that were leaving hospital and needed extra support. We have been able to offer furniture, information and the opportunity for the client to receive home visits. A positive conclusion that can be obtained at this point in time is that our approach to create a service that is actually needed, build on the foundation that the overwhelming importance is to provide what the residents have asked for and not what outside organisations deem to be appropriate. What was not anticipated and did not go to plan and lessons learned There was a delay on the starting date to the Feasibility Study and the Pilot Project; the reason for this was that the appointment of the organiser took longer than anticipated. To add further problems to this she left the post before the end of the six-month pilot had completed, resulting in the post being vacant for a period of time. A short-term solution has been to share the workload between the Oasis co-ordinator and volunteers. There has also been a delay in the recruitment process of volunteers due to the return of two references of each volunteer taking longer than anticipated and the length of time in which to gain the completion and return of Enhanced Disclosure Police Checks. We felt that the Enhanced Disclosure forms were needed to ensure the protection of the vulnerable clients and the workers and volunteers especially when conducting home visits, where the client’s well being is crucial. Although the Organiser and volunteers had attended various training courses, the negotiations between a local training provider had proved lengthier than anticipated for a comprehensive and tailored course that met the needs of the paid staff and volunteers. Mobile phones were initially loaned to two of the original volunteers, for safety while canvassing, unfortunately one of the volunteers reduced her contact with the Organiser. On contact she revealed that the mobile had been broken and thrown away, resulting in the Scheme losing the cost of the mobile phone, a replacement had not been included in the budget. Future Plans Further, it has become apparent that the working hours of 25 per week was not sufficient to carry out the demands made upon the organiser. We will need to review the salary level. The lack of transport within this area has been identified as a source of isolation and loneliness. Residents who are disabled find difficulty in using public transport and expense in using black cabs everywhere to rejoin society in leisure activities others take for granted. To ensure needs are met and delivery of the scheme is effective and progressive we have been fortunate to have had limited access of the Surestart minibus, when the bus and driver are not engaged in activities for the under four year olds. This unfortunately cannot continue in its present format, so funds for such transport through hiring have been identified as a priority if the Befriending Scheme is to continue to reduce isolation. Other equipment that has been identified as being useful to purchase have been cleaning materials as brushes and gloves, screwdrivers, hammers and nails for a handyperson and contingency funds for items as wheelchair hire. We currently have funds from the TSB Foundation to continue the project for about five more months. We hope to be successful with bids to other funders to enable us to extend the project for another three years, perhaps Esmee Fairbairn Foundation would be interested in supporting this project further? One possible funder we have identified is the Tudor Trust, which we shall also approach. Final comments: we believe our service has given benefit to the needs of the residents within the Ore Valley area that we have had contact with so far and been most useful to the most vulnerable, disabled and isolated within our community. On behalf of those who have been involved in the project we would like to thank you for the grant you awarded us. The work we have achieved in this initial first six months has indicated there is a definite need for the Befriending Scheme, we anticipate an increase for the demand of the service and thank the Board for their support and funds for the project to succeed. Further details of the Befriending Scheme can be accessed on the Oasis website for the Ore valley. Report completed on 9th July 2003 Jackie Gaunt Co-ordinator Oasis Graham Butcher Funding Volunteer Oasis