STAFF at Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest are celebrating after the local charity was awarded close to £31,000 in National Lottery funding to supporting its Befriending service.
The charity, which provides support and services for people aged 50+ living in north Worcestershire, will use the funding to support those overcoming some of the longer-term effects of the pandemic, including increased loneliness, isolation and loss of confidence.
Befriending is one of the charity’s core services, providing local people with friendship and support through regular calls or visits from a volunteer.
With the introduction of the first lockdown, the service quickly had to adapt to being a ‘telephone-only-service’.
And whilst the charity has seen a significant increase in demand these last 14 months, it has also experienced a change in the need and in the tone of the conversations, with people who had previously expressed quite a positive outlook now talking of being nervous around others.
The funding will contribute towards the core operating costs of the Befriending service ensuring its support can continue, whilst the charity recovers its financial position following the pandemic.
Age UK BRWF’s Acting chief executive Amanda Allen said: “We are acutely aware of the impacts that loneliness can have on an older person’s health and wellbeing.
“As lockdown restrictions are eased, there is the potential for a growing divide between those able to restart their social connections and those who feel that they cannot.
“Thanks to the National Lottery players we can now not only maintain our current levels of support but also develop the service to respond to the needs of our communities and reach those that need our help most.
“We have an absolutely amazing team of Befriending volunteers but to help us to grow the service, we also need more people to get involved.
“So if anybody can spare a few hours a week, and would like to make a real difference to a local older person, I would encourage them talk to us about becoming a Befriender!”
To find out more about Age UK BRWF’s Befriending service, including volunteering, call 01527 570490 or visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/
