The Background

Serve is a registered charity and since 1981 has been committed to assessing and addressing need and care in the community. Through the vision of a few dedicated people at that time the seeds of the current organisation were sown. Then, as today, it was recognised that there was a need to supplement the essential care and health needs provided by the NHS and Social Services and that many older persons and people with disabilities required assistance, advice and companionship. Funding was secured from both the NHS and Northamptonshire County Council and premises were acquired at Church Street, Rushden, which, although subsequently expanded, continues to be the Head Office.The growth of Serve in the first three years was quite exceptional, leading to the appointment of the first full time Co-ordinator in 1984, Mrs Sylvia Smith, who was to remain in control for a total of fourteen years. Serve continued to grow through the eighties and nineties, adding services as they became identified – and the first venture into Day Care came in 1995 when, with the help and support of Mr Peter Crisp, the premises in Church Street were extended.

This heralded the biggest growth period of Serve. It was recognised that Rushden was by no means peculiar in the need for services and the operational area was extended to cover other towns and villages between Higham Ferrers, Irthlingborough and Raunds plus the outlying villages of North Bedfordshire, a total catchment area of around 55,000 people.

The SERVE Philosophy

At Serve we are proud of our strong links with Northamptonshire County Council and the NHS. As a fully independent service provider however, Serve is not limited by any guidelines or restrictions in the facilities that it can provide. The strength of our organisation continues to lie in the ability to identify and respond to the needs of our clients. In reality we do not just offer a standard set of services but fulfil needs as they occur. Our motto remains “If it can be done, it will be done”. This philosophy extends to our Day Care where we structure each of our Centres to provide specialist care for people with memory loss and visual impairments, as well as the fit and active.Our limitations are determined by time, the availability and assistance of our dedicated staff and volunteers, and the inevitable funding.  With over 135 active volunteers Serve is a significant player in the voluntary sector. The mix of paid workers and volunteer staff works exceedingly well. It enables us to respond to a diverse range of requests and provides us with a wide range of skills and experience. If there is a need we will endeavour to fill it and then make it available to others. The fulfilment of the needs of our clients, together with the help and care that we can provide is the ultimate and only yardstick by which we measure our own performance.

Our Services - An Overview

The following list is a summary of the core services of Serve. It is not exhaustive and is intended to provide an overview. It is an indication of the diversity of activities and a reflection of the needs of our society.

Volunteer Services

Our volunteers provide the backbone of Serve’s commitment to the community. On cost grounds alone the majority of our services would just not be delivered without them.

All of our volunteers offer whatever time is convenient and, regardless of the amount of time that they devote, they are invaluable. Training is provided where required and all of our volunteers agree to provide two written references and to undertake a routine Police check.

Apart from our valuable drivers our volunteers work in our busy Front office, our Day Centres, our Administration and Finance departments; some provide Benefits Advice and others act as tutors and speakers for our Day Centres and our Senior Active Programme.

For more information on our Volunteer Support Services (Click Here)

Transport

For a small annual fee clients can join the Transport Scheme, which provides transport for medical appointments, using volunteer drivers.  We have modified vehicles for wheelchair users. Over 22,000 journeys are made each year.

Day Care

Currently there are three Day Care Centres located in Rushden, Higham Ferrers and Raunds – each with a manager and team of staff. The centres cater for people  with varying abilities and different needs (including visual impairments); they open at 10am and close at 2.30pm and provide refreshments, hot meals, therapies, bathing facilities and often have guest speakers. Clients say there is a really friendly atmosphere where they feel they can share any concerns with the carers.

Carers Support

Because SERVE understands the pressures faced by those caring for loved ones at home it offers a Carers Respite Centre, home visits, domestic care, transport and bathing service. 

Senior Active Programme

Serve run a programme of courses and activities for people over 55 years of age or people with disabilities, helping them to keep both mentally and physically active for longer. Topics include Tai Chi, Music Appreciation, Genealogy, Keep Fit and computer courses, and courses are run throughout the district.