A PROJECT that provides support to older or vulnerable people is calling for volunteers to act as good neighbours.

The Hambleton Good Neighbours Scheme is run by Stokesley Community Care Association, Thirsk Community Care and Northallerton and District Voluntary Care Service, set up after a successful bid for funds from Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group’s small grant scheme.

The idea of the scheme is that older and more vulnerable adults can contact the organisation nearest to them if they need help to carry out everyday tasks, such as collecting a prescription, reading letters, shopping or more general tasks that a good neighbour could carry out. These could be one-off requests or a regular task.

Phil Henderson, manager at Stokesley and District Community Care Association, said: “There are people out there who need help carrying out simple everyday tasks that most of us take for granted.

“We know there are people in local communities who would be willing to help if they knew about someone in need.

"Hopefully this scheme will match them up, supporting people to live independently in their own homes.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact either Northallerton and District Voluntary Service Association at www.ndvsa.co.uk or 01609-780458; Stokesley and District Community Care Association at www.stokesleycca.org.uk or 01642-710085; or Thirsk and District Community Care Association at www.tscca.org.uk or 01845-523115.