New service to tackle loneliness launched

Befriend West Berkshire looks to match volunteers with users

A NEW service aimed at tackling loneliness among the elderly in West Berkshire enjoyed its launch event recently.

At a packed Caffe Nero Newbury-based charity Volunteer Centre West Berkshire launched Befriend West Berkshire.

The three-year project has been designed to bring about change in the lives of older people who suffer loneliness through social isolation, by matching volunteers with suitable users.

West Berkshire Council adult social care has partnered the charity through its Voluntary Sector Prospectus funding programme and aims to be supporting 30 older people in the first year and 50 in the second and third years.

Volunteer Centre director Garry Poulson said: “It went incredibly well.

“We had 65 people and there was a really lovely buzz around Caffe Nero. We had a lot of interested volunteers and dignitaries lending their support.

“We had all age groups come along and people from Tilehurst to Lambourn, literally across the district, which is what we wanted as it’s a district-wide project. We got around 31 additional volunteers, better than we hoped, and we started the first induction last week. It’s just really nice to get to this stage this early on.”

To get the launch off to a start, Newbury-based blues and jazz singer Gail Hendrickx sang Ralph McTell’s Streets of London following a short speech from Mr Poulson.

The launch was attended by the former chairman of West Berkshire Council Peter Argyle along with the mayors of Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford, parish council chairmen and women, council commissioners, social workers, interested volunteers and staff.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Befriend West Berkshire can do so by emailing project coordinator Jacqui Letsome on befriend@vcwb.org.uk or by calling (01635) 49004

Visit www.volunteerwestberks.org.uk for more information