BSG - Update

On a week-end towards the end of June, Churchstanton was over-run by a plague of scarecrows - it was the occasion of the annual Scarecrow Safari, organised the local Church to raise funds. Outside number 2 Fairfield Green, Churchinford there was a sad looking exhibit in a wheelchair with a bandage round his/her head, one arm in a sling and one leg in plaster. According to the message resting on his/her chest/bosom, he/she was in some distress and it was suggested that the "BSG" should be sent for. The combination of the letters B and S and G seemed to create some confusion. "What do they mean?" my wife and I heard people ask and when we did overhear the question, we tried to get out and provide the answer. Unfortunately, we weren't always there to provide the answer… so I will remedy that problem now.

BSG are the initials of the Blackdown Support Group, a body formed on 2nd April (a carefully chosen date!) 1991 to provide help, of (almost) any sort, to the people who live in the Blackdown Hills. The Group operates in the area covered by the Blackdown Practice - approximately two hundred square miles - but you don't have to be a patient of that Practice to get help from the BSG I feel that I can resort to using the initials now that everybody knows what they mean!

Potential clients are referred to the Group by a member of the Primary Health Care Team, viz doctor, nurse, health visitor, Social Services representative or a member of the local clergy etc etc. and the Group will endeavour to provide the appropriate help. Leaflets are available at most good Surgeries and they will inform you that the Group will provide transport (with escort if necessary) to hospital, doctors', dentists', opticians' and business appointments and to local social events so that clients can keep in touch with friends. The Group will also provide someone to cut your toenails; to help with shopping; to provide respite for carers; to have a chat or to help with form filling. This latter facility is rather grandly called "advocacy" but, so long as the form gets filled in properly, who cares what it is called? The short-term loan of wheelchairs can also be arranged and the Group has a specially converted vehicle capable of carrying a wheelchairbound passenger and one other plus a driver. And, last but by no means least, there are four Lunch Clubs and one Tea Club in and around the "patch".

Where transport is provided, wheelchairs loaned, food purveyed and toenails cut, a charge is made - all the rest is freely provided by our generous, unstinting Volunteers. During 2007/8, these Volunteers (approximately one hundred of them) completed 2,595 separate jobs, gave 4,681 hours of their time and drove 44,192 miles. So that is what BSG stands for - why didn't we put it in full in our Scarecrow's little message? Because it wouldn't have scanned properly, would it?

Brian Simpson Chairman, Blackdown Support Group

ps please address any further enquiries to the Co-ordinator - Barbara Starkiss, c/o The Surgery, Station Road, Hemyock, EX15 3SF or on 01823-681036 (after 11.00am).  Vacancies for Volunteers and/or Friends always available!!