Good Companions

Good Companions: Reducing loneliness and isolation for vulnerable and older people in Clifton, Wilford and Silverdale.
Good Companions provides Friendship Groups, and a Home Visiting Service.
As of January 2025, we have had to place a temporary halt on accepting referrals for our home visiting service: volunteers visit people in their own homes on a regular basis to provide friendship and support.
Our Friendship Groups give service users the opportunity to meet, talk and make new friends over a cup of tea, as well as enjoying a variety of games and activities.
There are four part-time members of staff and a committed and a dedicated team of volunteers, all of whom have been DBS checked as required.
How to access our services:We take referrals from a wide range of statutory and voluntary organisations, including health and social services. However, you do not need to be referred to us to use one of our services. You can simply contact us for further information and we will be happy to help.
Our friendship groups are run throughout the week (except on bank holidays) at the following locations:
Clifton Community Centre: Southchurch Drive, Clifton, Nottingham NG11 8ARMonday 11.00am - 1.00pmContact: Wendy Finnerty, Co-ordinatorEmail: wendy@goodcompanions.orgTel: 07743 564716There is a car park accessed from Farnborough Road, just behind the Hope Centre. The tram stops outside the Hope Centre and there is a bus stop close by.The building is fully accessible for wheelchairs and has accessible toilet facilities.
Silverdale Community Centre: The Downs, Silverdale, Nottingham NG11 7EBMonday 1.15pm - 3.15pmContact: Gwen Eyre, Co-ordinatorEmail: gwen@goodcompanions.orgTel: 07871 330228There is car parking and there is a bus stop close by.The building is fully accessible for wheelchairs and has accessible toilet facilities. Clifton Methodist Church: Rivergreen, Clifton, Nottingham NG11 9AUTuesday 10.00am - 12.00noonContact: Sarah Cox, Operations Co-ordinatorEmail: sarah@goodcompanions.orgTel: 07743 561092There is car parking and the Rivergreen tram and bus stop is also outside.The building is fully accessible for wheelchairs and has accessible toilet facilities.
Simone Gardens: Southchurch Drive (opposite Clifton Leisure Centre) Clifton, Nottingham NG11 8BGThursday 10.00am - 12.00noonContact: Wendy Finnerty, Co-ordinatorEmail: wendy@goodcompanions.orgTel: 07743 564716The friendship group is held in the spacious communal room. There is limited parking. It is on the tram route and on the route of the no.48 bus.The building is fully accessible for wheelchairs.
Parkgate Community Centre: Chamberlain Close, Clifton, Nottingham. NG11 8RXFriday 11.00am - 2.00pmContact: Gwen Eyre, Co-ordinatorEmail: gwen@goodcompanions.orgTel: 07871 330228There is a car park and roadside parking. There is a bus stop close by.The building is fully accessible for wheelchairs and has accessible toilet facilities. Although not run by Good Companions, there is the opportunity to buy a three-course meal at lunchtime from the Parkgate Community Kitchen and many of our service users enjoy this facility.
Charges:
For all groups, a nominal charge will get you unlimited tea, coffee and biscuits and a variety of games including quizzes, card games, dominoes, crosswords etc. We also have Tai Chi sessions regularly and guest speakers occasionally.
If you have a mobility problem and require help to get to any of our Friendship Groups, we can arrange a subsidised taxi to collect and return you. Currently, the cost to each user is £3.00 per journey so if you arrive and leave in the taxi, the cost is £6.00.
Participation in any of the games and activities is optional but if you want to play Bingo or buy tickets to one of the fundraising raffles, there is an additional charge for each of these. We also take our service users on trips to venues such as the theatre, garden centres and other places of interest. Charges for these are dependent on the individual trip.
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Volunteers needed
Why not become a volunteer with Good Companions?
Volunteer roles include:
• Helping to run our weekly Friendship Groups
• Being a Home Visitor - visiting people in their own homes each week
• Be a member of our Management Committee or subgroups
• Help to organise and attend trips to places of interest
• Fundraising
• General administration
As a Volunteer you will make a positive difference to both people's lives and your own life.
Why not come and join us, make new friends, and contribute to your local community.
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If you have any questions about, becoming a volunteer or Good Companions and the services we provide, please feel free to contact us on any of the telephone numbers provided or
Email: info@goodcompanions.org or, Facebook messageFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodCompanionsNottingham/
Who to contact:Sarah Cox, Operations Co-ordinator Tel: 07743 561092
Registered Address: Good Companions Clifton Cornerstone,Southchurch Drive, Nottingham, NG11 8EWRegistered Charity No: 1144729Telephone: 0115 8786182
E-mail: info@goodcompanions.orgWebsite: https://www.goodcompanions.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodCompanionsNottingham/

Times and availability

Age Range: For vulnerable and older people

Charges:
For all groups, a nominal charge will get you unlimited tea, coffee and biscuits and a variety of games including quizzes, card games, dominoes, crosswords etc. We also have Tai Chi sessions regularly and guest speakers occasionally.
If you have a mobility problem and require help to get to any of our Friendship Groups, we can arrange a subsidised taxi to collect and return you. Currently, the cost to each user is £3.00 per journey so if you arrive and leave in the taxi, the cost is £6.00.
Participation in any of the games and activities is optional but if you want to play Bingo or buy tickets to one of the fundraising raffles, there is an additional charge for each of these.
We also take our service users on trips to venues such as the theatre, garden centres and other places of interest. Charges for these are dependent on the individual trip.