Good Neighbours — Diocese of Norwich

Good Neighbours

Published on: 24 May 2022

Mary lives in North Walsham with her dog Pippa. She has mobility issues and her family relationships are tricky.

Pg 4 - Good Neighbours - Mary and Pippa

The big smile on her face in this photo is down to those in the town’s Good Neighbours Scheme whom Mary now counts as friends.

The contact she already had with GNS was ramped up when pandemic struck. A new befriending system came quickly into being and Mary was just one of many benefitting hugely from rotating contact with several befrienders who supported her through bleak times. Other volunteers took her food and medication and linked her with additional care providers.

Since then, the care has gone on and on… Mary’s been lent a powered wheelchair, been taken shopping, enjoyed face to face visits, a garden makeover and treats on her birthday. Without the GNS, she, like so many, would be entirely alone. With them, she feels known and loved.

This article is from...

Prayer Diary 4 Summer front page

Summer 2022

Articles in this issue...

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Bignold Primary School, in Norwich, sets the bar high when considering “Who is my neighbour?”; 48 languages are spoken, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Afghan, Mandarin, Hindi and Punjabi are all present, for example.

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With lovely golden sands and charming architecture, Cromer is renowned for summer good times at the seaside.

Listen to the Voice of Creation

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Faith in farming

Nigel Stangroom is a farmer near Dereham, growing herbs (parsley, mint, coriander, and tarragon), along with blackcurrants for Ribena, as well as the usual wheat and barley.

Moving into the neighbourhood

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood,” says The Message translation of John 1.14. Next Sunday, 10 people will be ordained Deacon in Norwich Cathedral, most having just moved into their new parishes.

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