Be a good Hartleneighbour

Called ‘Hartleneighbours’, it’s the idea of Hartlepool community organisation Hartlepower and is backed by the Hartlepool Support Hub.

Volunteers who become Hartleneighbours will have access to advice, information and resources to support them to be a good neighbour and offer help to those in need in their street or neighbourhood.

Hartleneighbours can be good neighbours in a number of ways including talking and listening or sending a cheery card or letter, helping with shopping or picking up prescriptions – provided that the recipient wishes to receive this help and whilst always following the social distancing rules and staying safe.

To find out more about becoming a Hartleneighbour, visit www.hartlepower.co.uk/hartleneighbours.

There is also a Hartleneighbours Befriending scheme, connecting those most in need through the Hartlepool Support Hub.

This enables the Hub to connect individuals with an appropriate volunteer who can provide them with the support they need, including regular phone calls.

To be connected with a Hartleneighbours Befriender please call 01429 272905 or email helping@hartlepool.gov.uk.

Juli Simons, Hartlepower Development Officer, said: “There’s already lots of fantastic good neighbourliness going on across Hartlepool. We hope that through Hartleneighbours we can help that flourish even more by providing some encouragement and support.

“Being a good neighbour takes so many different forms but it can make such a big difference, especially to neighbours who are elderly or living on their own.

“Of course, we would also always remind people of two important points – the need to maintain social distancing at all times and the fine line between looking out for others and unwanted interference, so you should only offer support to people if they are happy for you to do so.

“Also, for safety reasons, good neighbour networks should always only begin and grow through neighbours linking in with other neighbours who they know.”

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, added: “In Hartlepool we have a great tradition of helping each other, particularly in times of need, and the current emergency is no exception.

“Residents across the borough are doing marvellous work to help support their local communities. I hope that thanks to initiatives like Hartleneighbours we can strengthen those links even further.”