b:friend is an award winning charity pairing volunteer befrienders with socially isolated older neighbours in the community to pop in, once a week, for a cuppa and a chat. Through one to one befriending and community social groups we aim to reduce loneliness among our older neighbours by reconnecting them with people and places in the community. We aim to have an impact on secondary outcomes of isolation including onset of dementia, depression and hospital readmission.
b:friend has been pairing older neighbours with befrienders since 2017 throughout South Yorkshire. There is no charge to the older neighbour and the aim is to facilitate mutually beneficial friendships that can offer companionship long into the future. The charity will look to pair befrienders with individuals aged 65+ that consent to visits and do not have specialist support needs, including a diagnosis of dementia or acute mental health needs.
Testing is a vital part in our fight against the spread of Covid-19 and to help reduce the rate of people contracting the virus, your help is still needed as much as ever.
You can get a test at one of six testing centres by booking an appointment in advance.
Community Transport providers in our region have stepped in to offer a free return journey to a Covid-19 vaccination site to people from priority groups who cannot access public transport and have no other means to get there.
What is Community Transport?
Community Transport is a subsidised service, funded by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), which, for a small charge, normally provides an alternative solution for residents who may find it difficult to access standard public transport. Offering Door 2 Door ‘Dial-a-Ride’ and ‘Shopper Bus’ services, they are a lifeline for vulnerable members of the community.
During the national lockdown, while everyone has been advised to stay at home wherever possible, Community Transport operators have only been providing a limited Dial-a-Ride service for essential trips. Therefore, we decided to use this vital resource to support people in need across South Yorkshire to travel to vaccination sites for free and support the region’s vaccination effort.
How can people book a free ride to and from a vaccination site?
All Community Transport services use fully accessible vehicles and can pick up passengers directly from their homes.
To book a free ride to and from a vaccination site with Door-2-Door services in South Yorkshire, passengers must call their local provider, once they have their vaccine appointment. There is a dedicated service available for Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield as follows:
• Barnsley Dial-a-Ride – 01226 732096 • Doncaster Community Transport – 01302 342400 • Rotherham Community Transport – 01709 517100 • Sheffield Community Transport – 0114 285 9906
They should try to give as much notice as possible and at least one or two days before the journey itself. Operators will work hard to accommodate as many people as possible, but places are limited, and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
How is this being communicated to customers?
We are will be promoting this offer via our usual social media channels, a press release and on our website at Travelsouthyorkshire.com.
How you can help
It would be appreciated if you could please help by advising as many people as possible about this free service and how to register for their free booking through your online and social media channels, newletters, or during any video calls you may have with priority groups.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to be part of its COVID-19 vaccination programme from January 2021 onwards.
The role
We are looking for Volunteer Stewards to work both at our hospital vaccination centres, and at our large scale site at the Sheffield Arena. This will be a varied role, supporting the vaccine centre with duties including directing and signposting attendees, informing attendees about COVID safety measures, handing out information and providing general support to staff working at the site. The role will be and active one and volunteers will need to be mobile/on their feet for the duration of the session. Shifts are likely to be 4 hours long with sites operating 7am-7pm, 7 days a week.
What we are looking for
The project is still in development and therefore we are looking for volunteers who are able to be flexible and respond to the needs of the role as it evolves. Your precise start date is yet to be determined and you may be called upon at short notice. We are looking for individuals who can volunteer for at least 4 hours a week on a regular basis for at least 3 months and who have great interpersonal skills as this role will be very much about interacting with the public.
Due to the nature of the project and the current national and local restrictions, training and induction will take place online and rotas will be communicated by way of a smartphone app. For this reason we are looking for volunteers who have an email address and access to a computer and smartphone.
If you have additional skills such being able to speak other languages, use of British Sign Language or Basic Life Support Skills, please indicate this on the application form.
At this stage applications are welcomed from those aged 18 and over.
What we can offer
An opportunity to be involved in an important and historic undertaking as well as meeting new people, increasing confidence and the satisfaction of knowing you are doing something worthwhile.
Out of pocket expenses will be provided along with all required training. References will be available for volunteers who attend regularly and commit the required number of hours.
All required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will be provided.
How to apply
The Role Description for this role is attached. Please apply online here http://bttr.im/hy7ss
We may close the recruitment process if we receive the required number of applications.
On application you will provide your details and indicate your availability. If you are shortlisted you will be asked to provide ID documents for identity and DBS checks. An individual COVID-19 risk assessment will be conducted for each volunteer and you will undertake the Trust’s mandatory training before commencing in role. You will also need to provide details of referees and complete an Occupational Health questionnaire.
Questions
If you have any questions about the role before applying please email sth.volunteer@nhs.net and we will get back to you.
Bags of Taste’s first remote budget cooking courses will be starting on 02/02 and will be commencing on a weekly basis with a new cohort each week through to the end of February.
All that’s needed to take part is a kitchen with basic equipment and a phone. All courses are done from home and we deliver a free bag of ingredients with everything needed to cook 3 dishes at home.
Groups are kept small to enable students to form supportive relationships with each other, while the mentor can offer emotional support and befriending, if the student doesn’t have access to the internet or needs extra support BoT can provide one-to-one mentoring over the phone. On finishing the 2-week course, BoT provide online or offline resources to further students’ development, learning and engagement.
BoT take referrals and self-referrals via email sheffield@bagsoftaste.org, alternatively text or call 07757393758. If you are making a referral please get in touch with the name, contact number and postcode of your client. BoT still have plenty of spaces available for the courses so please feel free to refer multiple clients.
Have you used continence services in Sheffield? Do you care for someone who uses continence services? We want to hear from you. Throughout November, a group of Councillors from Sheffield City Council are listening to people’s experience of using continence services in Sheffield.
Chair of the Healthier Communities and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Cate McDonald wants people to come forward and share their views – “Continence isn’t something that gets discussed much, but good continence services play a vital role in keeping people independent and well in our communities. We want to shine a spotlight on continence services, to understand whether they are meeting the needs of people in Sheffield, and make recommendations for improvement. We want to make sure that people’s experience is at the heart of our work, so we’re asking you to come forward and share your views with us. We want people to feel comfortable talking to us about this, so we’re offering a range of ways to get in touch – you can email us at scrutiny@sheffield.gov.uk or call us on 0114 27 35065 and we can arrange a convenient time to talk, or you can fill in our online form here.” https://sheffield.citizenspace.com/policy-improvement/continence-services
Sheffield Theatres are going to be running a weekly workshop, for people living with dementia and their carers, and I hoped you may be able to put the flyer attached on your social media? Details of the workshops are below.
Come along to our weekly workshops exploring the themes of shared memories- creating, making and doing for people living with, and those caring for people living with dementia. We will create an interactive museum around the themes of memories and growing up. A seven week creative project which will end in a celebration event; a fun and interactive ‘live’ exhibition made in partnership with Sheffield students.
Sessions are Wednesday afternoons for 7 weeks and are free to attend:
10 October 1.30-3.30pm
17 October 1.30-3.30pm
24 October 1.30-3.30pm
31 October 1.30-3.30pm
07 November 1.30-3.30pm
14 November 1.30-3.30pm
21 November 1.30-3.30pm
To book a place or for more information, please contact the Box Office on 0114 249 6000 or email access@sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Please arrive at the Crucible from 2.00pm for refreshments before the workshop.
South East Sheffield 