History of
Evergreen
Evergreen Sleaford first started after the need was identified to better support the senior members of our local community. Through conversations between Churches Together in Sleaford & District, North Kesteven District Council and Louise Marsh, from Evergreen Stamford, a way forward was identified. Louise had shared the work of Evergreen Stamford to a group of interested people, and from that group, a smaller group from across all the churches came together, and established what is now formally ‘Sleaford Caring Trust’, a registered Charity, but operating as Evergreen Sleaford.
After spending almost 2 years making all of the arrangements to set us up as a charity, and training all of our volunteers, we were able to set up our very first ‘friendship’ and become fully operational by April 2012.
Year 1
Our first official year as a registered charity was in 2012-13 when we started with a few special friendships that were already in place by the time the charity had been approved. In that year we added a further 15 friendships, with our area of operation largely in and around Sleaford but also including Leasingham, Heckington, Ruskington, Ancaster & Metheringham. We received some financial support from the Wilpeg Fund in Ancaster, who continue to support us to this day.
Our financial supporters from around the area include local churches, and individuals who have more recently become part of Friends of Evergreen, important contributors who help us keep Evergreen going. We were also supported by the major supermarkets in Sleaford and other significant grants made by various organisations with support from the Lincolnshire Community Foundation.
Year 5
Let’s fast forward to year 5. By our 5th Anniversary, at the end of 2017-18, we had supported our 100th Befriendee (103 in total) - 103 lonely older people who would otherwise have had no-one visiting them. That is an amazing testimony to our many volunteers, some of which have been with us from the start, meeting on a regular basis with their ‘friend’.
By the time we’d reached our 5th year, we’d also expanded our geographical coverage to include some new villages as well - like Billinghay, Billingborough, Cranwell, Caythorpe, Martin, Welbourn, Swaton – and more! We also took on our first employee - a paid
Co-ordinator for 1 day per week, which quickly became 2. They are the hub of the Co-ordinating Team ensuring all the necessary assessments, reviews, and interactions with our befriendees and befrienders take place.
Year 10
Let’s move on to our 10th year. At the end of Year 10 (2021-2022), that 5-year figure had doubled and there had been 208 friendships in total together with a further extension of localities covered with the addition of Ropsley, Dembleby, Greylees, Helpringham, North & South Kyme, Scopwick, Wilsford and Rauceby. At our busiest time, the number of Befriendees on our books reached 66, but we know that one day it will be even higher.
During the past 10 years, Evergreen Sleaford has been recognised through the NK Community Awards and is regularly sought out for involvement in new initiatives in the town and beyond. Sleaford Caring Trust (Evergreen Sleaford), also plays its full part in the ‘Evergreen Family’ locally and nationally as developments continue to take place.
…and to today
And now to today. In summary, we have had more than 220 friendships over the past 10 years which includes those still taking place today. Over our history we have had over 150 volunteers partner with us to deliver friendships to those 220 people. Without those volunteers, none of it would have been possible, so a massive thank you to all of them!