Haywards Heath’s Mayor, Duncan Pascoe, recently spent a morning with volunteers from Good Neighbours CARE, meeting some of the charity’s Haywards Heath based clients.

The Mayor said: “I recently had the pleasure of joining volunteers of Good Neighbours CARE to understand what a normal day of volunteering looks like. For those who don’t know, Good Neighbours CARE is a local charity that offers a range of support for vulnerable people in our community that need it; this could be helping them with their shopping, giving them a lift to hospital appointments, or simply spending time with them to reduce loneliness. It’s the sort of support that is often unseen but makes an enormous difference to people’s lives.

“During my day with the volunteers, I was humbled to witness their compassion and commitment to helping others. Some of the volunteers I spoke to have been supporting people in our community for several years and their impact has greatly improved the lives of the people supported. The best part is the volunteers are just like you and me, neighbours that want to look out for their neighbours.

“I’m grateful to the volunteers for allowing me to join them for the day and I learned that the volunteering opportunities at Good Neighbours CARE are highly flexible. For example, you could give just an hour a week to help a vulnerable person with their shopping and making a huge difference to their lives. Volunteering is an incredibly rewarding thing to do, so if you have any spare time, consider joining Good Neighbours CARE to start making a difference to your community.”

For over 40 years, Good Neighbours CARE has helped isolated and vulnerable residents in Haywards Heath and nearby villages. The charity shops with clients or shops for them, drives them to medical appointments and visits them for a cuppa at home.

If you want to know more, visit the charity’s website: www.careinhaywardsheath.co.uk