The Great Shelford Mobile Warden Scheme (GSMWS) was set up in 1996 to help reduce isolation amongst the elderly population of Great Shelford Village. It is a registered charity and relies heavily on grants and donations to survive. The scheme is a valuable asset to our village and is highly commended by both members and the local community.
The scheme operates within Great Shelford village only and is available to elderly people within the village living in their own home. We aim to provide reassurance and security to our members by ensuring regular contact with them, assistance in emergencies and in times of illness by calling a doctor. We also help our members and their relatives access other local services.
Wardens are also happy to carry out small jobs and tasks for people that make staying in their own home easier, such as collecting prescriptions, going to post office, shopping for essentials, making phone calls, helping with paperwork, changing a battery or light bulb etc.
Each member can have a daily phone call between 9am and 10am to check on their welfare and have a chat. This can be very reassuring for many people who live alone. Each member will have at least one regular visit a week but usually two.
How the scheme operates
The scheme is run by a committee of volunteers and employs two part-time Wardens. The members each pay a contribution of £30 a month and the rest of the funding comes from grants and donations. In the past we have applied for and received grants from the Cambridge Community Foundation, the Parish Council and South Cambs District Council as well as donations from local groups and businesses which include the Shelford Feast, the Village News, Shelford Support Group, the Oral History Group and Waitrose. Also, we occasionally receive legacies.
Our two part-time paid Wardens cover the week between them with occasional help from our volunteers. Claire works Monday and Tuesday and Vivienne covers Wednesday through to Friday. They work alternate weekends making morning phone calls to members who have requested it. There are no visits at the weekend except in the case of an emergency.