DOREEN Smith from Southampton is encouraging other members of the community to volunteer and become part of a team of befrienders working with lonely and isolated people in the city (December 2021).
After receiving support from Communicare as a service user, Doreen decided to become a volunteer for the charity to give back to others in a similar position to herself.
She says: “I love being a part of the team of volunteers at Communicare and I am pleased to be able to offer support to vulnerable people. It is such a lovely organisation to work with.”
The 84-year-old was a regular guest at Communicare’s tea parties for a number of years and has also benefited from other support given by the charity.
During the pandemic she realised that its telephone befriending service was something that she could volunteer to help with.
She explains: “I couldn’t get out and about but knew that I could do this from my own home to offer a friendly ear to someone who may be feeling isolated.”
Once Doreen’s registration as one of Communicare’s volunteers, known as Communiteers, had been completed, she was paired with someone who had requested a regular call and a new friendship began.
Doreen continues: “It really helps us both and we both look forward to our weekly chat. We have a great laugh and it breaks up the week.”
Anyone interested in learning more about Communicare’s volunteer opportunities should visit https://communicareinsouthampton.org.uk/volunteer/ for more information.
Communicare Manager, Annie Clewlow, says: “Doreen is a highly valued member of our team and has made a big difference to the service user she has been paired with.
“Volunteering can be very rewarding and beneficial for both parties. In this case, volunteering has created a new friendship and also reduced the feeling of loneliness for someone who may have otherwise felt vulnerable and isolated.
“Volunteers get involved in a variety of ways and our Communiteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds and age-ranges.”
Communicare, which is a friendly, neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton. Its services are staffed by its committed, kind-hearted volunteers, known as Communiteers, who give their time freely.
The services Communicare provides are free to users, although beneficiaries are invited to make a donation if they are able to, and Communiteers are offered expenses.
To find out more about volunteering for Communicare, please visit www.communicareinsouthampton.org.uk or call 023 8250 0050.
You can also find Communicare on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CommunicareInSouthampton, Twitter https://twitter.com/communicare_so and Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/communicare-in-southampton/.
