Community Impact Bucks is the independent charity which provides comprehensive support services to other charities, community groups, social enterprises and rural organisations throughout Buckinghamshire. It is also the Volunteer Centre for Buckinghamshire, helping members of the public to get involved in community activity. How can we help you today?

slideshow images
I want to know what is going on in my community

News

Are you dreading the arrival of the cold weather

1 February 2012

Are you dreading the arrival of the cold weather which has been variously described by the newspapers as an ‘Arctic Blast’ or ‘Siberian Snap’? Think then how much more worrying this prospect is for the elderly, housebound or physically disabled.

 

There are many such vulnerable people around the county who could really do with help should we experience prolonged severe weather as we have during the last two winters.

Consideration must also be given as to how to keep schools open and help communities go about their every day business.

A major county wide initiative is currently being planned to help alleviate the potential hardships for both the vulnerable and communities in general.  At its initial stages, it is hoped to get a good network of organisations and volunteers established so that any help needed can be implemented within a short timescale should severe weather trigger the need for action.

So far, organisations such as Age UK, Chesham Action Volunteers, some Parish councils and some local churches are getting themselves organised and we are now busy working hard to identify other groups around the county as part of this initiative.

With this in mind we are asking at this stage for volunteers to register an interest in offering their help, so that they can eventually be referred to organisations that will be able to use their help.  These may involve attending a local incident centre or staying at home to help in their immediate locality.

Just some of the potential roles which may need to be filled by volunteers are:

  • § operating the call centre by manning the phones to prioritise calls and organise what needs to be done on the ground
  • § delivering groceries which housebound people have ordered from local supermarkets
  • § clearing snow
  • § collection of prescriptions and delivering them to the housebound
  • § organise ‘crash pads' for people who cannot get home
  • § if you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, volunteering your services to provide transport for key workers.

Maybe you can spare just a few hours per week, but you could make a huge difference to people's lives by helping  one another should Mother Nature decide to make life difficult for us in the coming weeks.

If you would like to help in this important initiative, please register your interest by contacting 01895 837545 or send an email to volunteering@communityimpactbucks.org.uk, stating which geographic area you live in and the type of help you could offer.

The Volunteer Centre Bucks is part of Community Impact Bucks, an independent charity helping members of the public to get involved in community activity.

 

< Back

In this section