Vision & Values
Our vision at St. Christopher’s Good Neighbours is to provide Hope for the People of Holme Wood and surrounding areas by helping to combat loneliness, providing low cost food and furniture and providing general help and support to people of all ages.
We believe in helping people to reach their potential and so we work with volunteers from different backgrounds, ages and abilities to help them discover their skills and talents which they then use to help the local community.
Since the project began in 1989, we have been of service to many people and have shared something of God’s love within our community. Although Good Neighbours is a well established community project, we are constantly seeking God’s guidance and listening to both our service users and the local community for new ideas and ways in which we can improve our services.
Our Team
Diane Berry
Project Co-ordinator
Janet Lumb
Day Care Assistant
John Newsham
Cook
Janice Pearson
Staff Member
Zarenah Valentyn-Gabriel
Development Worker
Paul Holmes
Minibus Driver
Elaine O’ Connell
Administrator
Good Neighbours could not achieve all that it does without a dedicated team of volunteers. We work with volunteers who come from all areas of the local community and help out in all aspects of the project. So whether it’s helping to wash up or delivering furniture they each play a vital role and we are very grateful to them.
Volunteers: Terry, Ken, Jim, Margaret, Janice, Madge, Betty, Ann Marie, Billy.
History
St. Christopher’s Church has been established in Holme Wood for more than 50 years and has run activities for people of all ages for over 20 years, beginning with a small community café, which became St. Christopher’s Good Neighbours. In response to community need, we began to provide a place for older people to come and be part of a daytime community, combating loneliness and enabling people to live independent lives. Now, the project includes a fruit and veg co-operative, a furniture and community shop and a range of events and activities. Our sister projects, the Youth Project running clubs for school children, and the Family Project supporting families with young children under the age of 5, have recently combined to become St Christopher’s Family Centre.