C O P E               

CONFERENCE  OF  OLD  PEOPLE'S  ORGANISATIONS  EASTLEIGH

COPE, a brief history...

Originally named 'Standing Conference of Old Peoples Organisations Eastleigh', (SCOPE).  However, there was another organisation called SCOPE in the area so the 'S' was dropped from the name!  COPE then became the working name...

The Mayor of Eastleigh for 1987/8, Cllr Philip Spearey made Age Concern one of his Mayoral Charities.  Peter Molyneux suggested that he let COPE have the money to purchase emergency panic button alarm 'Life-line' systems, which COPE would endeavour to install throughout the Borough of Eastleigh for frail, elderly or disabled people.  The Mayor agreed, COPE then purchased 15 Life-line units to get started... these were supplied and fitted locally.  When the fund closed, the Mayor gave further funding to enable another five units to be purchased.  COPE gradually started to build up its stock and an ever increasing client list.  Shortly after COPE started their Life-line service, the  Eastleigh Borough Council started a similar Life-line scheme.  However, because they had to pay their operatives they found it necessary to keep increasing the rentals and in 1991 they ceased to provide a Life-line service and COPE agreed to take over their existing clients (approx. 74).  EBC also donated £3,400 to the COPE funds.  

COPE has three main stalwart volunteers, Peter Molyneux the Chairman (a man of many talents), Freda Molyneux secretary & admin. and Diane Pascoe who acts as the COPE treasurer and Life-line installer for Fair Oak.

COPE is a registered Charity. Originally it consisted of all the Age Concern groups in the Borough of Eastleigh - Bishopstoke, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Fair Oak, plus other caring groups.  Of the latter, the most active were West End Voluntary Care Group and Hound Good Neighbours (who have since ceased to exist).  COPE has an excellent team of volunteers who install the Life-line units, Brian Dyke in Hedge End, Jim Tidbury in West End, Norman Ball in Netley, Diane Pascoe in Fair Oak, Paul Matthews in Bishopstoke, Clive Mitchell in Eastleigh and of course Peter Molyneux who installs in the Chandlers Ford area.  Without these dedicated volunteers the service would have been a great deal more expensive!

The Life-Line service provided by COPE has been an outstanding success, with 600 plus active Life-Line units up to January 2004, this has without doubt saved many lives throughout the Borough of Eastleigh and enabled many people to continue living at home.  For the Volunteers, the service has been a victim of its own success, they were finding it increasingly difficult to manage such a large scheme... so, in the early months of 2004 COPE has agreed that the Life-Line service will be transferred to, and be run in conjunction with Eastleigh Community Services (ECS) and will be known as the 'ECS LifeLine' service.  With the experience and help of the COPE volunteers this should make for a successful formula for the future of  LifeLine 

Peter Molyneux

COPE chairman

ECS Trustee & Past Chairman

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Freda Molyneux

COPE Admin & Secretary

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Diane Pascoe

COPE Treasurer