Suckley GNS needs YOU to keep Suckley special! We will help Suckley residents to be better connected, especially the vulnerable and socially isolated - so vital in Suckley where homes are scattered and social isolation is real - but this does not have to be a problem. We will give each home an updatable folder of useful local information and contact details, and encourage local businesses and craftsmen to use it. We will enable more digital champions to teach IT skills to those not yet digitally connected. We will encourage and enable digital communication skills, especially for the vulnerable and elderly. Social distancing is easy here, but keeping alert to our neighbours' and each other's wellbeing needs us to engage with each other in new ways as well as old. For Suckley residents to effectively meet the challenges of this present pandemic era we need to strengthen our local identity and maintain our community spirit. Together we will improve the quality of life for many.

What we'll deliver:

• Purchase 500 A5 quality printed card information folders to hold loose sheets (c £340)
• Create and source the information sheets for the above folders - donation
• Create a 'bank' of donated iPads & train new Digital Champions - donations
• Enable new volunteers to have DBS checks

Why it's a great idea:

1) All Suckley residents will have a durable attractive and up to date folder with information and contact details for all their local needs and more. 2) Suckley and nearby businesses and craftsmen will benefit from knowing that their A5 fliers could reach all residents and probably be kept and updated and attract more local business. 3) New volunteers will be encouraged to join the Good Neighbour Scheme. They may then enjoy the satisfaction of further GNS training (CLV training by Citizens Advice and Digital Champion training by LearnMyWay) 4) COVID self-isolation has emphasised the disadvantages for those who are not digitally connected. Our volunteers will be enabled to help bring digital connectivity to those who would benefit from the new social interaction and interest that this brings. 5) Suckley's scattered community will be encouraged to work together and thus equip themselves better to deal with challenges like COVID self-isolation and geographical social isolation.

Steps to get it done:

• Designing the cover of the new leaflet folder
• Contacting local businesses and craftsmen etc to provide information leaflets
• Achieving a DBS for every new GNS volunteer

Suckley is an unusually vulnerable community comprising a sprawling mix of farms and scattered hamlets where challenges include: 1) Social deprivation. 25% of households live alone and there is an increasingly elderly demographic. 2) Connectivity deprivation. Mobile phone and internet coverage is variable and unreliable. 3) Services deprivation. We are in the lowest 5% in the country in terms of Barriers to Services. 4) Suckley Good Neighbour Scheme has a tried and tested infrastructure (useful multi-skilled volunteers accessible via GNS email and local telephone number). 5) Working with local Councillors and the local PO and Stores, and supported by local social networking, Suckley community coped well through the challenges of the first COVID peak. Volunteers enabled an effective delivery service for shopping and other supplies. Now is an excellent opportunity for new local folk to enjoy the rewards of volunteering to foster community cohesion and strengthen community spirit.