We have had to take the decision not to take on any further clients for the time being as we are now operating at or very close to maximum capacity given the numbers of clients that we are now helping and the number of volunteers that we have available. We have a waiting list and anybody who would like to become a client will be added to that list.

A brief update on our activities as we near the end of the 1st month of lock down.  There has been a steady stream of new clients joining us and we are currently doing regular weekly unaccompanied shopping for circa 25+ clients plus a few adhoc requests and are also offering a telephone companionship service – we have 30 clients benefitting from this support operated by 14 volunteers. Although we receive requests for help outside our operating area, sadly we are unable to assist in these cases as we do not have sufficient volunteers and our office is running on minimal staff at the moment. A number of our ‘pre-lockdown’ volunteers are unable to help with the shopping as they are having to self-isolate by virtue of age, underlying medical conditions etc but we have been bolstered by 13 new "coronavirus volunteers" who have joined us and they are most welcome. We also have a few more new volunteers ‘in the pipeline’. Thank you to all who have joined us. To our volunteers who cannot participate at the moment, don't feel guilty - you're doing the right thing by staying at home.  Our thoughts and prayers go to anybody who is directly affected at this difficult time.

Due to the impacts of the Covid-19 (Corona virus), we have reviewed the services we offer in the light of government advice. As well as trying to look after our clients, we also need to consider our volunteers, many of whom are themselves in that group which the government describes as vulnerable.

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The office will be staffed less frequently (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9am - 11am), will only have one occupant at a time (it is a very small office) and will not be taking visitors. 

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In future, new requests will only be accepted for unaccompanied shopping. All other requests will be declined. This means we have  ceased taking people to shops, social groups, hairdressers and even doctors and dentists etc (although most of these facilities have closed or are restricting access anyway). The cessation of our transport facility is due to the need to maintain a physical distance between our volunteers and clients.

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For those clients who would like us to do their shopping, we ask them to use the following  arrangement - volunteers must not enter client premises and must be handed the shopping list and cash at the door.  (There are very many empty shelves in supermarkets so the likelihood of client requirements not being satisfied is quite high.)

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At this time we are still able to take on new clients and should you, or anyone known to you, who lives in our catchment area, need our support do call the office or make a referral using this website.

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All the above changes will be reviewed on a frequent basis as the Corvid-19 situation develops. We regret having to take these measures but in the meantime, we hope that everyone pays regard to the advice about looking after themselves and that you all remain healthy.

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The UK Gov page about general Covid-19 advice can be found here. It is updated regularly and contains links to pages of advice in specific situations. The NHS page about Covid-19 can be found here for more specific health advice.

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We were very pleasantly surprised before Christmas when we received a visit from one of the teachers from Llanishen High School. Students had put together 50 quite large hampers of food for older or vulnerable people in the community who they believed might appreciate a gift of this type, to show that they had not been forgotten. We were able to deliver a number of these and, working with Independent Age/Cardiff, facilitated delivery of hampers to a wider group of people who were not clients of GNiNC. Well done Llanishen High.

We are delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiaries of a Race Night to be held by Llanishen Rotary Club.

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The event is being held on 18th October, at 6:30pm for a 7pm start at the Lisvane Memorial Hall. Tickets are £7.50 which includes a light supper.  There will also be prizes for Race/Horse sponsors.  Why not buy a ticket for yourself, bring a friend, or even book a table for a fun night out! 

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We would like to thank Llanishen Rotary for choosing us as their beneficiaries, and for all their support of Good Neighbours in North Cardiff. 

Some of you may have been affected by the route changes implemented by Cardiff Bus which have resulted in the removal of services along Lake Road West. This Wales Online article on 28th July 2019 ( click here to read it ) talks specifically about the impact that the changes to those services has had. It also highlights the problems faced by people who do not have the use of a car and the effects of increased isolation. This is why Good Neighbours in North Cardiff exists. We offer help with transport to shops, doctors, social meetings etc, and we need to keep raising funds in order to provide our services. If you can help, either by volunteering or donating, please contact us. This is our Volunteer page  and our Orange Donate button is at the top of this page. 

We have been surprised and delighted to receive a very generous donation from a friend of one of our former clients. Two of our volunteers had helped the client twice a week with visits and outings. Recently, a friend of the client came to our office and made a donation in gratitude for the support that we had given. Naturally we cannot identify the client or the donor, but it is so nice to know that our efforts have been noticed and appreciated. Our thanks to the two volunteers (Steve and Martin) for their efforts and to the donor for their gift for which we are extremely grateful, and which will enable us to carry on supporting other clients.

A huge thank you to the Allen Lane Foundation who have accepted our application for support through their charitable foundation.  This will be a big help to our ongoing existence while we cement our future funding.  Thank you also to our Chair, Jonathan Lewis for his time on this application.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped us organise or attended our Spring Sale on 6 April 2019 at Llanishen Baptist Church.  We collected an astonishing £553 on the day, and are hoping to also gather match funding from two local banks.  A great start to our financial year!

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Thank you to Llanishen Baptist Church for their ongoing support!

Thank you to the KIN group (Kindred Spirit) who kindly ran a coffee morning in support of GNiNC in March.  They raised a very welcome £400 for us.  Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this event.