Page 7 - Annual Report 2019 - 20

Well-Being and Emotional Support

This project formed during the pandemic as it became apparent that those isolated were also
in need of emotional support.

Trained mentors from the supported volunteering projects were utilised to provide expert
support
The project started in April 2020 and has continued to develop and reflect the changing needs
of clients. From April 2020 to September 2020 the project received 71 referrals and has been
able to train 33 Volunteers to be Befrienders during this period.

The project was for older isolated individuals providing practical and emotional support, but as
the pandemic has continued the project now supporting younger clients supporting their
mental wellbeing.
The key strengths of the project has been the refer clients in crisis to further
sources of support, including mental health crisis lines, debt and housing support,
adult social care, domestic abuse and refuge services as well as more specialist
organisations.
Connecting Communities
In 2019 VCG became a part of the Connecting Community Alliance which is a
partnership of voluntary sector organisations in Greenwich funded by The Royal Borough of
Greenwich and includes, Metro, GAD, Mencap, Age UK and Mind.

The aim of the partnership is to help people who are using specialist services to manage the
transition to using mainstream services. VCG’s role in this partnership was to recruit, train and
support a team of volunteer chaperones who accompany clients to and from services,
providing emotional support. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there were no face to face
appointments and chaperones were transitioned to volunteer on the Well-being
and Emotional support project. VCG has continued to work with partners in the
alliance as a source of referrals and support.

Social Enterprise - Film Walking

The Greenwich Film Centre for ticketing and expanded as filming
Walking Tours were marketing and Made in continues to be ever more
Greenwich to provide a free popular in Greenwich.
launched in October taking
cup of tea to tour participants. The original volunteer
place on a Saturday until
Covid restrictions came into The Film Tours featured as guides for film tours have
force in March. The tours part of the Greenwich “Its remained with the
operated in partnership Time” campaign to encourage enterprise through all the
with the Old Royal Naval locals to visit attractions with ups and downs of Covid
College and were supported discounted tickets for front and in September we
by the Visit Greenwich staff line workers post lockdown. welcomed a new guide.
at the Tourist Information Tours have developed and
7