We are really pleased to announce that our application to Sandwell’s Vision 2030 Community Main Grants Programme has been approved. The Vision 2030 grant is administered by SCVO on behalf of Sandwell MBC. The grant will provide vital financial support for our Sandwell Together Telephone Befriending Service.
We have been delivering this service since 2020 and to date we have provided much needed support to over 340 residents of Sandwell which has provided a valuable point of contact, listening ear and a vital lifeline for those adults who feel isolated and alone.
We have a small team of volunteers who are in regular contact with our beneficiaries to evaluate the satisfaction levels of the support provided. Direct feedback from beneficiaries is clear evidence of the difference this service makes, including:
- Many who state that the regular call is the only outside contact with the world from one week to the next.
- Regular thanks received from those who receive calls for our volunteers and the service that we provide generally. Many feel that it is a real life line, some have said that it has even been a life saver.
- Our volunteers often listen to the concerns and anxieties of those they speak to and, with their consent, can discuss these with qualified Advocacy Practitioners at Sandwell Advocacy. More often than not we are able to use our experience to either provide the additional short-term support required and/or signpost to another appropriate agency. This is especially vital where an individual lives alone and has little or no contact with family or friends.
- Our befriending volunteers tell us that they gain a lot from their befriending work from improving the own skills and experience to improving their own mental health and well-being by knowing that what they do is making a significant difference.
If you are interested in joining our team of volunteer befrienders please contact Louise Jones on 0121 520 8070 or email louise.jones@sandwelladvocacy.org
