Age UK Lindsey was awarded £49,981 of Community Investment Funding by the Theddlethorpe GDF Community Partnership for a befriending project to help reduce levels of loneliness and social isolation in coastal areas.
As part of the project, the organisation is supporting older people who live alone to be more socially active, connected and improve their health through local friendship groups and coffee clubs.
The initiative provides a range of support including ‘face to face’ home visits, telephone support and a programme of social activities including Coffee Clubs and Friendship Groups, open to anyone over 55 years of age in the community. The project will also produce newsletters and wellbeing packs and make contact through video calls and online group chats.
On receiving the funding, Andy Storer, Chief Executive Officer, Age UK Lindsey, said:
“We have been so pleased and grateful to receive Community Investment Funding for our Coastal Chat Befriending and Social Activity project. The funding has been used to support a wide range of social activities for older people in local communities, such as Mablethorpe and Withern, bringing people together and tackling the issues of loneliness and isolation.”
The aim of the project is to provide opportunities for engagement with a befriender and access into social activities to improve the health and mental wellbeing older people in the community to support them to live happier, more fulfilling lives.
The funding has enabled the programme to take on two new staff, to fund training to new volunteers and to recruit new volunteers. Talking about the difference the project has made, Andy added:
“We have also offered one to one befriending for those who are less able to get out of their home. We know that older people who have had contact through befriending and social activity groups, have a reduced incidence of depression, anxiety, and other mental health diseases that may stem from isolation and lack of contact with their peers, and it is lovely to have such positive comments from those older people engaged through the project.”
Discussing how the services is making a difference to people lives, Avril Stevenson, Befriending officer, explained:
“A lot of people, especially the elderly, can be hugely socially isolated and that can have a huge impact on them, particularly their mental health. The befriending allows them to build up a friendship with the same person. They normally get a weekly call or a weekly visit. I befriend a few people, and they open up to me about problems they may be having and in that way, I can support them or perhaps sign post them to other sources of support as well.
“It’s making that difference to people, particularly if they are lonely or isolated. Some of them they comment that I’m the only person they might speak to in a week. That makes my job worthwhile – that is why I do my job.”
Geoffrey Collinson, spoke about how he’s benefitted from taking part in the befriending scheme.
“It’s a warm feeling, it’s friendship, it’s a good listening ear. I think it helps a lot of people who are lonely and on their own, and just need company or social interaction. They also helped me to get my blue bade and my person credit,” said Geoffrey.
He added, “It really is a very, very good support. Well worth a try for anybody who is feeling lonely, I would say it’s the best thing for them.”