RIDDLESDOWN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

St. EDMUND'S CARING GROUP

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What is the Group and what does it do?
The History of the Group
Contact Details
News and events
Annual Report 2007

WHAT IS THE GROUP AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

St Edmund's Caring Group consists of a number of people living in Riddlesdown, who are prepared to give their time to help residents when required to do so.

The scheme is run by three Co-ordinators who will endeavour to find a Volunteer for anyone needing help. This is purely a voluntary scheme.

Help given in the past has included shopping, washing, ironing, sitting with the lonely and elderly, respite help for carers, transport - especially for medical appointments, befriending, taking care of children when parents are ill, escorting on public transport.

We try to circulate the area bi-yearly, advertising our services and recruiting Volunteers.

There is a twice yearly support meeting when we invite someone from a Caring Agency to address us informally about their particular job or group.

The Co-ordinators attend meetings on behalf of the group. The group are members of Croydon Neighbourhood Care Association.

Over the years we have accumulated a great deal of information; we can often answer any queries. For help on a more specialised scale - if we have not the answers, we can usually get them quickly.

At the start of 2007 Julia, Barbara and Penny had a meeting to discuss the best way to involve 3 people as co-ordinators. It was decided that Barbara would arrange the lunch club transports, and would be responsible for claims for petrol from the volunteers. Julia would arrange shopping rotas, and would send in the quarterly parking permit returns to the Council, and Penny would deal with a lot of the administrative work which included the Health Related driving returns each quarter. We would all continue to receive requests from the clients and to act accordingly. Letters were sent to the clients and the volunteers telling them the new arrangements and telephone numbers.

We have had a good year, with Mary Cutbill, Kathleen Davies and Cheryl Morris joining us as volunteers. Jackie Fletcher resigned, but we are grateful for the time she has given to us. We have had several new clients, some of whom are getting regular help. Sadly Peter Macdonald and Jean Saunders died during the year.

 We were refused a grant from Croydon Council, but are still receiving Health Related Driving Money from the PCT, though again this had to be reduced. CNCA meetings are attended by one of us, and people have attended training sessions on manual handling and visual impairment. Several of us went to the Aztec Centre, and Brian Longman showed us all the gadgets and technology he has put in place for people suffering from Alzheimer’s. We are grateful to CNCA for the support they give us, and for arranging training sessions.

During the year we have had two Volunteer’s Meetings, the first being a surprise party for Barbara Lee, when we had a supper and presented Barbara and John with Royal Opera House tokens. At the second meeting Andrew Crooks from OPeN, the older people’s network, told us about the way older people have a say in the services offered to them by Croydon.

Our outings this year have included Sleeping Beauty, the Sanderstead pantomime, and a very successful summer outing to the Wetland Centre at Barnes following a picnic lunch in Richmond Park. Our volunteers enjoyed Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House. This was paid for with part of our legacy.

At Christmas a number of our clients were visited and given small presents.

We are grateful for the work done by Olive and Brenda at the lunch club, for Don as treasurer for all he does for the group and for Susan and the DCC for supporting us.

None of this would happen without the volunteers. Because of their commitment we have not had to refuse a job. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH

                                                Penny Hinton, Julia Rider & Barbara Towler

THE HISTORY OF THE GROUP
'Sylvia's Saints'

The group came into being during the 1970s. A member of St Edmunds congregation was admitted into Mayday Hospital, seriously ill and in a coma. Her husband was not domesticated and, because of the suddenness of the illness, was in a state of shock.

A young mum, also a St Edmund's member, got a small group of women together and organised rotes for the daily running of the household, including a daily meal. Happily the lady recovered from her illness but needed much care for some time. This was also attended to by the same group. Eventually the lady was sufficiently well as to be able to run her home again. During this time her husband had named the group 'Sylvia's Saints'.

The group continued to function, giving help whenever required to do so.

As time progressed, the original leader moved away. It was considered that the group was beneficial to the Community and so another member of St Edmunds was approached who took on the job of setting up the group much as it is today. She and her husband put a great deal of thought and time into forming the group. Since that time other Co-ordinators have taken on this work.

Although this work began with members of St Edmund's this is NOT a condition of belonging or use. It is a group for ALL who live in Riddlesdown BY those who reside in our Community.

We are proud of the fact that we are usually able to fulfil requests made of us.

We stress that you need to ask, we will not come into your home uninvited to take over your lives.

There is a 24 hour answerphone, please leave a message if you need help. See numbers below.

People offering their help should ring the same number/s.

For those living alone, we keep a KEY-HOLDERS register; if you are not answering the doorbell or telephone, we will contact your key-holder so that he/she can check on your well-being.

All Volunteers are invited to claim expenses.

St Edmund's now offers a Lunch Club operating on alternate Wednesdays. For more information, contact Olive Johnson on (020) 8668 2957.

CONTACT DETAILS

Anyone needing help or anyone wishing to join the group as a volunteer,
should telephone either

Penny Hinton 020 8660 8239
or
Barbara Towler 020 8660 8653
or
Julia Rider 020 8651 6493

NEWS AND EVENTS

SECG celebrates its 30th anniversary

This article was published in the Riddlesdown Recorder in October 2005

After starting in a small way in 1975 with our first coordinator Sylvia Gould, it was felt that there might be other people living in Riddlesdown requiring help. Sylvia recruited more volunteers, and offered our services to the local community. Sylvia and her family moved away, and Anne Lowy, with the help of her husband, became our second coordinator. This was a job she felt she could do as she was at home for a lot of the time because of poor sight. They looked at all the jobs people might need help with, and recruited volunteers on that basis.

   Anne continued for a number of years before Win Collis and Rhona Drew took over. Rhona then moved away, and Vicki Kiang joined Win for several years. When Vicki left, Penny Hinton joined Win. Win left after 12 ½ years as coordinator, but remains a volunteer. Barbara Lee then joined Penny. (In April 2007, Barbara, although remaining a volunteer, gave up her coordinating duties; these were taken over by Barbara Towler and Julia Rider.)

   During this time it was felt necessary for our volunteers to be insured, and a grant from Croydon Council was applied for. In order to do this a management committee was needed, and St Edmund's Church Council agreed. This still continues today.

   Croydon Neighbourhood Care Association (CNCA) was set up in the early 90s as an umbrella for all the groups in Croydon of which there are now 32. They are there in an advisory and supportive capacity, willing to help with any problems. They arrange bi-monthly meetings for group members. At these there is usually a speaker related to Neighbourhood care, and groups have the opportunity to learn from one another. Relevant training days are also organised by them.

Clients and volunteers on an outing to Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park, Summer 2005

Clients and volunteers on a 2005 trip to Kew

   In July this year CNCA arranged a 'thank you' party at Royal Russell School, for all volunteers; 350 people enjoyed afternoon tea, and the Deputy Mayor thanked all the volunteers for the work they do for the people of Croydon.
   We celebrated our 30th Birthday on Sunday, 9 October 2005, with a service of thanksgiving and Harvest Festival at St.Edmund’s.

Volunteers at Royal Russell with former coordinator Win Collis on extreme left, Penny Hinton third from right,
and Barbara and John Lee on extreme right

  SECG WINS 2005 CROYDON CHAMPIONS TEAM AWARD

Croydon Champions, which recognises the Borough’s unsung heroes and heroines who work tirelessly behind the scenes serving the community, recently held their
2005 award ceremony.

On behalf of the St. Edmund’s Caring Group, Riddlesdown
joint co-ordinators Penny Hinton and Barbara Lee
accepted the award for Team of the Year
(sponsored by Tramtrack).

On December 1st, the Group volunteers held a lunch, organised by Penny, Barbara and her husband John, at St Edmund's Church Hall to celebrate the award.