Services - Aylsham Care Trust - 'Linking together people in need with helpers who care'

Luncheon Clubs
Social Outings
Shopping Trips
Library Service
Visiting and Support for carers
Gardening
Minibus Trips
Essential or Emergencey Car Transport Services
Coffee Mornings
Help in a Crisis

Our luncheon clubs, held every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, are outstandingly well attended and membership is high. We serve approximately 10,000 lunches per year. These luncheon clubs and our Christmas Day lunch are extremely happy events for all concerned and a social highlight for many people throughout the district who would otherwise be on their own Transport is provided for those who would otherwise not be able to attend.

Throughout the year we provide many outings to local events and places of interest using our two minibuses, both of which have wheelchair lifts and easy access. Along with our luncheon clubs, these outings can provide a social life for those living alone or with a physical impairment that may otherwise lack the confidence to take part in social activities.

Our voluntary minibus service brings people into Aylsham from the outskirts of town and surrounding villages for shopping and other essential visits – again providing support for people who may otherwise feel isolated and alone.

We arrange volunteers to collect and return library books for those who have difficulty in getting to the library themselves.

We have friendly voluntary visitors who are more than happy to offer friendship and support during a difficult time, either by visiting or by sitting with sick relatives in an emergency.

We can undertake a basic one-off garden tidy up for those who are unable to do this for themselves.

Our minibuses, which have wheelchair lifts and easy access, regularly transport people to and from our luncheon clubs, into town and on other outings. This is not a free service and we ask for an appropriate donation toward the cost when using the minibus.

Our transport service provided by volunteer private car owners is always in great demand. Our co-ordinator arranges more than 100 essential hospital/doctor trips per month. Our drivers are great ambassadors of ACT, often providing higher levels of care than is expected of them. We receive many reports and comments concerning the exceptional kindness and professionalism displayed by our volunteer drivers. There is a cost for these services but we do try to keep this to a minimum through the kindness and generosity of our drivers.

The Pop-In Coffee Morning held every Thursday morning between 9.30am and 11.30am at the Town Hall provides a regular meeting place for people to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Everyone is welcome and this is an opportunity to meet representatives of ACT and to obtain further information about us.

If you have any other problems with which you think we might be able to help, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.