New online support for communities launches in West Lancashire 

West Lancashire is set to benefit from a new free online platform, Rally Round, which allows a support network to gather around you or someone you care about.

Rally Round allows day to day tasks to be listed so that people involved in helping someone can keep track of what is outstanding – and communicate with each other to offer the best possible support.

Rally Round is accessible online at www.rallyroundme.com/wlcvs and is available free to anyone living in West Lancashire.  Rally Round is being launched jointly by NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and West Lancashire CVS.

Greg Mitten of West Lancashire CVS, said:

“The community can be so powerful when it rallies around an individual, and whether it’s for a family member, a friend or a neighbour, there is so much we can do for each other.  When a group of people work together to support a carer or vulnerable person using Rally Round, not only does that individual receive so much more support and care, but also those helping are also part of a wider network to share the load.  

“There are many day to day tasks that can be difficult to complete for some, so Rally Round allows for those to happen in a coordinated way by having a ‘to do list’ and using email and text notifications.  We would like to urge the communities of West Lancashire to explore the benefits of Rally Round themselves and we look forward to hearing your feedback”.

Chris Russ, IT lead for NHS West Lancashire CCG said:

“Rally Round is a fantastic online resource and we are delighted to work in partnership with West Lancashire CVS to deliver this locally.  As healthcare commissioners, we often hear first-hand of the struggles carers and other vulnerable people can face daily in managing their normal lives.  Whether it’s doing the shopping, changing a lightbulb or attending a health appointment, Rally Round aims to create a support network to take on these tasks and support those who need it most.  This is a n excellent example of how technology can be used to improve people’s health and wellbeing.”

If you are interested in Rally Round, please visit www.rallyroundme.com/wlcvs or contact Sarah at West Lancs CVS, Certacs House, 10-12 Westgate, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 8AZ or carers@wlcvs.org or 01695 733737

If you are a carer but do not have access to the internet, please contact the CVS to discuss alternative support which may be available.