THE Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust has had a busy year of hosting various events, supporting local artists and its Good Neighbours Scheme hitting a new milestone.

Ali Park, the trust’s project officer, reflects on the past 12 months which began with the Warm Ross project, run by Tina Knapman, and for the second year the scheme helped dozens of households with emergency meter top ups.

This coincided with a live social media event providing advice and support on keeping warm and saving energy.

The trust was also awarded a grant via Herefordshire Together towards to continuing its Good Neighbours scheme, which hit a milestone of 1,500 shopping requests in October.

This was provided by a team of regular shoppers working alongside clients in Ross on both long term and emergency shopping requests while the helpline team has dealt with over 400 calls.

Ms Park said that she was kept busy visiting local groups, attending events and market days to talk about the service. She also ran safeguarding training for the volunteers with Sue Murphy from Ross Meeting Centre who helped with dementia friends’ sessions.

The trust’s highly successful Festival of Volunteering in September, as part of the John Kyrle 300 commemorations, was attended by over 100 volunteers from 26 local organisations. The trust’s own volunteer base continues to grow with over 150 members to date.

During the autumn Ross CDT supported a small group of local artists and community volunteers to restore the water life mural along the alleyway between Rudhall Brook and Trenchard Street.

The trust’s befriending service is still very much a core part of its delivery and the feedback it receives from clients reflects the huge impact on the team in combatting loneliness and isolation within the community.

For more information on Ross Community Development Trust visit the website rosscdt.org.uk.