Call Companions

Anyone who wanted to help with the aim of our bus tour, but who couldn’t crochet or knit, was welcome to make a donation to our charity partner, Re-engage.

Before the virus crisis, Re-engage (formerly known as Contact The Elderly) organised tea parties and befriending services for older people living alone. Now that we know loneliness can be as detrimental to your health as any disease, their work has never been more crucial.

During the pandemic, Re-engage introduced their “Call Companion” service. In lieu of being able to connect people face to face, volunteers can pick up the phone and contact someone identified as being at risk of becoming isolated.

Sarah – Corporate Partnerships Manager at Re-engage – explains how crucial the Call Companion service has become.

“It might not sound like much – often just half an hour each week – but it makes such a difference to people who are very isolated.

“We have people who haven’t spoken to anyone for three weeks, so you can imagine how much difference a regular phone call to look forward to can make.”

Feedback from the clients has been great so far. “The calls, and being in touch with Re-engage, has really helped. Just to know that there’s someone there – it’s meant a lot,” one client told the team.

Sarah and the Re-engage team are hoping the bus will help raise awareness of the charity’s work, and they’ll be able to find more people who might benefit from the service.