Wednesday, February 25, 2015

BRIGG VOLUNTEERS NEEDED


From Peggy O'Neill, Befriender Co-ordinator - Brigg & Barton & Surrounding Areas
Peggy.O'Neill@northlincs.gov.uk

On behalf of North Lincolnshire Council I am identifying those who may be lonely and/or isolated, possibly frail living in care homes and in the community, with a view to determining if a buddy/befriender would have helped their feelings of loneliness and social isolation and also if having a buddy/befriender could have helped them access community activity. 
A volunteer befriender could be somebody who visits someone at home on a regular basis, simply chatting and spending time together, or someone who meets up with you to go to activities and introduce you to new clubs. 
It can be quite nerve-wracking going somewhere new and meeting new people alone.
The people we thought befrienders might be aimed at are:


  • Elderly - 50 - 70 plus - some flexibility on age due to circumstances and health 
  • Frail 
  • Lonely 
  • Isolated 
  • Within the community or care homes 
  • With or without family support 


The questions we are asking are:
Q) Would you have liked to have a befriender? Or anyone in your group or anyone you know?
Q) Would you or any member of your group have liked to have looked into befriending if we had been offering this?
Q) Would you or anyone in your group have liked to have volunteered as a befriender?

This is a very special way of volunteering and requires a patient, non judgemental person who is able to commit to at least 2 hours per week on a regular basis.

Q) Would you or anyone in your group have liked to look into volunteering as a befriender?
We are asking these questions and putting names and addresses together to show in numbers if there is a need for this service. These addresses are only used to show this piece of work has been completed and the need looked into, with real people! 
This work will end March 30th 2015 I have only few weeks left to gather as many names as I can.

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