NODA Latest News

It has been a busy few months for our NODA volunteers. They have started befriending in both the community and care homes and we couldn’t be more proud of them.

Befriending in the community means our volunteers are meeting terminally ill people and offering them friendship and support. It can be difficult to talk about end of life with family and friends, sometimes it helps to speak someone who is not emotionally involved.

Our compassionate volunteers have also been paying weekly visits to elderly care home residents who do not receive visitors. We have had very positive feedback from residents that they look forward to and enjoy the visits and it has been a very fulfilling experience for our volunteers.

NODA Wigtownshire would like to thank both Newton Stewart Initiative and Newton Stewart and District Round Table for making generous donations. The funds will be used to help train and support our volunteers and make sure they can reach as many people as possible.

NODA and Newton Stewart’s Here to Help Fayre took place on Monday 20th May and was an absolute success. It brought together many of the areas helpful services such as a Listening Ear, NHS home teams and Home Start amongst many others. This was a great opportunity for all of us to network with each other and talk about how best to help the community of Wigtownshire. We also had many prospective volunteers attend to talk to us about volunteering opportunities. Perhaps best of all, members of our wonderful community came to the fayre to see how we and other organisations can help them. We hope to run another event in September and would like to hold a similar session in the Rhins.

Our NODA volunteers got together in May for their first care circle. We had a very informal talk about self care and shared thoughts and experiences from our lives. Our NODA volunteers are such a friendly bunch there were many laughs also. Each volunteer had a gratitude journal to take home and we can’t wait to hear how everyone is getting on with them. Care Circles to come over the summer include Glenwhan Gardens and Wild Swimming at Moss Yard with Swim the Lochs. We do all we can to look after our volunteers as they give so much of their care to others.

We hope to run Befriending Training on the 31st August. If you would like to become a NODA befriender please complete the quick online application form NODA Volunteer Application (wigtownshirewomenandcancer.co.uk)

NODA Wigtownshire were delighted to hold their project launches in November 2023. Held at the Creebridge Hotel, Newton Stewart and North West Castle Hotel, Stranraer,  both events were well attended by local councillors, volunteers, NHS staff and local support groups.  Attendees discussed the vital support this project can offer to those in our community that are dealing with a terminal diagnosis alone and help to address some of the health inequalities involved in living in such a rural area.

January got off to a fantastic start with an amazing group of volunteers attending our Palliative Befriender training. Alison Bunce and her superb volunteer Doris gave valuable insights into how to offer support and friendship to someone living with a terminal diagnosis. Our volunteers are such a kind and friendly bunch, they hit it off immediately! It was great to see them building relationships with each other and their focus on helping others was truly inspiring.

2nd March saw our volunteers attend their No One Dies Alone companion training. Our volunteers are now ready to begin their support for those who need it most and we are hugely proud of them!

Alison Bunce made it a really inspiring afternoon alongside two of her fantastic volunteers. Thanks again to Alison, Doris and Muriel for all their knowledge and compassion.

For more information about the 'No One Dies Alone' (NODA) project in Wigtownshire and how to get involved  Email: nodawwac19@hotmail.com. or  Tel: 07514 534978