How Neighbourhood Networks has helped me by Heather Chaplin

This is to me the most cost effective service which I have had support from to date, this being due to the flexibility of support, day and night.

They enable us to help each other where appropriate; this is not just exchanging phone numbers but takes careful and professional management of this group of vulnerable adults with a range of difficulties.  I have been enabled by their support, not only to function better to stay alive but also now be able to contribute more within my own community, Seil and Easdale, and I know that is the same for others within the group, mainly staying around Oban.  I have linked up with another lady to learn sign language and that has lead to supporting a couple of others not in the group, to also learn.  In time we can be of some help out there to those who need to use sign language.

Some members support each other out of office hours, saving calling emergency services.  Each one of us has their own story as to how they are helped.

Neighbourhood Networks should be held up as a model for the future, being a most productive and cost effective way to provide these services and essential support, not to be relegated to the dump.