A SOUTHAMPTON charity recently (August 2022) hosted a tea party for its service users to help tackle loneliness in the city.
Communicare in Southampton held the tea party at Colne Avenue Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 24 and offered a space for people to get together over tea and cake.
Annie Clewlow, Manager at Communicare, says: “Part of the work we do, and are passionate about, is helping to reduce loneliness in the city and, to do this, we regularly arrange for our service users to get together with each other and socialise, often over some tea and cake.
“For some of our service users, it is the only time that week that they will see or speak to another person, so it’s really important we get them to come along, and we’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all the volunteers who helped make this possible on the day.
“It was a fantastic tea party and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended. We enjoyed a fantastic spread put on by our commercial venture, CommuniBakes and transport was provided with funding from the Daily Echo’s Gannett Grant.”
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 devoted volunteers, known as Communiteers, who give their time freely.
The charity is currently supporting around 600 individuals/families through tasks including one-to-one telephone befriending and transport for essential appointments and assistance with shopping.
Annie adds: “We are always looking for more volunteers to help us with events like this. Volunteering is not only beneficial to those we help but is also proven to be great for those who volunteer too. We call them our Communiteers and they are a cheery, friendly bunch of all ages, genders and ethnicity who find it very fulfilling helping others. Some also say being a Communiteer has helped beat their loneliness too, as they are telephoning people for us or are out and about meeting new people.
“Volunteering is varied, our friendly Communiteers provide valued support in all sorts of ways. From making regular telephone calls, just to check in, which is great if you don’t feel able to meet face-to-face, as well as safely driving people to medical appointments, shopping for those unable to leave home, popping in for a cup of tea and a chat, and of course, providing emotional support. It’s also flexible and rewarding, just an hour of your time, could be the highlight of someone’s week and we are urging anyone who has ever wondered what it’s all about or thought about giving it a go, to come and meet us and find out more at our upcoming sessions.”
Communicare currently has around 300 Communiteers and has launched a campaign to substantially increase this number to be able to support more people through all the services it offers, not just the coffee morning.
Communiteers are offered simple and basic training on topics such as safeguarding, manual handling and developing listening skills. They can choose their level of involvement and the types of activities they wish to engage in too.
Support provided is at a neighbourly level and Communicare does not offer professional, personal care, which can be given by statutory providers, or routine cleaning or gardening.
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 Communicare or to become a volunteer, please visit www.communicareinsouthampton.org.uk or call 023 8250 0050.
