Moor Park & Eastbury Neighbours Together

Some of you will have heard about Moor Park & Eastbury Neighbours Together. We are a mutual aid voluntary group who came together in March 2020 to help residents who were elderly, vulnerable or isolating during the pandemic.

Three and a half years later we are still active and have 50 volunteers, and many more supporters in the local community! We see ourselves as a group that has brought together residents from both Moor Park and Eastbury with a common goal – to do what we can to help the local community. With many of our initiatives we have been able to help other local areas, groups and organisations. We are still doing what we can but in a reduced capacity. Recently, we have been helping a struggling family find furniture, and also supported an initiative to help children who are receiving end of life care at Watford General Hospital.

It’s small gestures like the ones we offer that can sometimes have the greatest impact, especially when times are difficult!

Above are a selection of some initiatives we have organised since 2020, including photos of a few of our lovely volunteers receiving certificates from Watford & Three Rivers Trust and Three Rivers Council thanking them for their efforts to help the local community in 2020.

I have worked and volunteered for a number of Hertfordshire based charities over the last 7 years. In that time, I have heard many volunteers say that as much as they give to the charities they support, they feel they gain so much more! This could be increasing their confidence, being part of a community, helping their mental health and wellbeing or gaining new skills. There are so many positives to be gained from volunteering.

Hertfordshire has so many charities doing what they can to help and support communities in a variety of ways; providing direct help to relieve poverty, sharing information, raising awareness of important issues, improving mental health, or even supporting the creative arts. They all need the ongoing help of volunteers to provide the services they offer, whether that’s collecting and delivering food parcels, cooking meals for struggling families, befriending elderly residents, improving the local community, fundraising, mentoring, constructing community allotments, wrapping gift bags for vulnerable residents… just to note a few.

If you are looking to start your journey in the charitable sector and volunteer time to help others, here’s a few places you can find local opportunities:

1. You may want to attend this volunteer fair on 2nd December

2. Watford & Three Rivers Trust (W3RT) have a list of current voluntary opportunities

3. You could also go through the W3RT community directory which lists most charities and community groups in near & surrounding areas

4. Other voluntary opportunities in Hertfordshire  https://www.govolherts.org.uk

5. If volunteering isn’t for you, then there are other ways to connect with the local community. Community News shares events, activities, hobbies, and help and support in Hertfordshire https://hertscommunitynews.co.uk/

As a coordinator for Moor Park & Eastbury Neighbours Together, I have had the privilege of collaborating with and supporting many local organisations and charities. If you would like further help finding a voluntary role, that suits your skills and interests, feel free to reach out to me and I would be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

Naomi Bhundia

Coordinator: Moor Park & Eastbury Neighbours Together

How to contact us:

Email: nbhundia@hotmail.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195299058846388/?ref=share_group_link