As a Friendly Phone Calls Volunteer you could be the person to brighten someone’s day by picking up the phone & having a chat from the comfort of your own home.

Detailed description

This role does “what it says on the tin”. You could be the person to brighten someone’s day by picking up the phone and having a chat with an older person from the comfort of your own home.

The role involves calling an older client once a week for a chat to support them, help to boost their mood and reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation. The service has the aim of improving the wellbeing of clients through regular contact.

We try to match volunteers with clients who share things in common and the service co-ordinator is always on hand to offer support or make useful suggestions.

When this service started it was open to all older people but we are currently only accepting new referrals from our partners in the Open Mental Health Alliance, to support the older clients who feel low or lonely and who need this service this most.

For this volunteer role we are seeking friendly, positive, patient people who would like to help older people in their community, who are good listeners and enjoy having a chat.

SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER

Volunteers must be over 18.
References and a DBS check are required for this role.
Ideally the Volunteer will have a phone plan with free minutes

Volunteer Outcomes:

Talking to others
Increase in confidence
Meet new people
Feel happier
Sense of belonging
Improved Self-esteem
Sense of Purpose
Sense of Achievement
Feel Less Lonely
Improved Social Skills
New Friendships
People & Communities

What volunteers need😇 Disclosure and Barring Service

What we will provide to volunteers

🤝 Extra support

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About Age UK Somerset

Age UK Somerset's mission is to improve life for the older people of Somerset and North Somerset.

There is much to celebrate about getting older, but our later years can also prove challenging: loss of confidence, lack of mobility, financial pressures and suffering from loneliness and isolation are just some of the issues our local older people face.

We offer a wide range of popular and well-used services and activities specifically developed to meet the needs of the over 60s and we need Volunteers to help us run them. These include our Wellbeing Service - including Walk and Talk, Wellbeing Friends and Friendly Phone Calls - Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy ‘Memory Connections’ groups, Information and Advice service and lots of fun Ageing Well activity sessions. These services can not be provided without the support of our wonderful Volunteers.

As a Volunteer, whatever time you can afford to give and whichever of our many roles you decide suits you the best, your contribution will be helping more older people to enjoy a happier and healthier later life.

NOW more than ever WE NEED YOUR HELP…. A lot of older people are turning to us for support and these services can only continue with the support of people like you.

See more opportunities by Age UK Somerset