14
FRIENDS IN DEED
We report regularly in Roundabout on current activities and forthcoming events. However, a re-
quest has been made that we say more about ourselves, who we are and what we do.
First, a little history. In 2005, under the leadership of our “then” vicar, Revd. Margaret Smith, some members of
the church congregation met to discuss the possibility of forming a group who would offer friendship and support
to anyone living in Buckden who was either housebound, lonely or new to the village.
From this embryo meeting, Friends in Deed has developed into a fully fledged village organisation. The Parochial
Church Council [PCC] continue to support, and sponsor us financially - it pays for any debts we incur such as
publicity, donations to visiting speakers – and within two years we had been invited to become part of Care Net-
work Cambridgeshire, an “umbrella” group which provides training opportunities and gives access to excellent
insurance cover for those who drive.
As the variety of requests has increased and as we have looked at the skills and talents of our team members, we
have been able to offer more kinds of support than we originally envisaged.
Visiting
We still do this. Our Co-ordinator [currently Christine Lawrence] puts a Friend in touch with a person requesting a
visit. The only requirement is that the request comes from someone who lives within the parish boundary of Buck-
den. Times and frequency of visits are agreed by the two people concerned. Friendships made eight years ago
are still being maintained.
Visiting and support is not always a regular commitment. It can be “one-off.” We have helped young families in
this way, looking after a small child whilst a parent or sibling attends a medical appointment.
General helpfulness
We offer to do errands, especially in seasons of severe weather. We have done almost anything required from
posting a birthday card to collecting a veterinary prescription for a dog.
A late member of our team, much missed, would change light bulbs and do small DIY tasks.
Dealing with “Officialdom”
One of our team, who previously worked for Age UK has experience of helping people see their way round quasi
legal problems and filling in forms. He has, for example, helped someone sort out legalities on the death of a fami-
ly member, another to find suitable housing, another to get their affairs on a sound financial base on the death of
a partner “who did everything.”
Transport
This is the kind of one-off help we are most frequently asked for. Because it involves a considerable workload, we
appointed a Transport Manager [Andy Scott} who has a designated phone number and deals with requests. Our
involvement with Care Network allows us to charge our passengers 30p per mile and the County Council gives us
15p per mile. One of Andy's first tasks was to draw up a list of all the alternative modes of transport available to
Buckden residents; public, private and voluntary. Please ask Andy, Christine or any team member if you have not
seen this small pamphlet and would find it useful.
We have taken clients to a variety of destinations for both social and medical reasons:
to our local “Monday Club”
Day Centres
Lunch Clubs
Dental and Hearing Clinics
Warfarin clinic
Chiropractor
Chiropodist
Hospital appointments
Veterinary Surgeries [cats or dogs accompanied by their owners]
Open meetings and Training
We hold two open meetings as well as our AGM when we usually invite a speaker to tell us about their own work
in an area which connects with what we attempt to do. Amongst others we have welcomed speakers from MIND,
Hospice at Home, the Red Cross, Age UK, Cruse Bereavement, the Bobby Scheme, the Altzheimers Society,
Poppyfields.......We have become better informed and have collected a “library” of helpful literature which is kept
on church premises. Our Secretary Hilary Grant holds a list of what is available.
Here for the people of Buckden
