Tackling loneliness and isolation, one conversation at a time

According to survey statistics, Birmingham has a higher-than-average number of people who say they feel lonely. Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone, but it’s particularly common among older adults.

Across Birmingham, charities and volunteers are working hard to change that, offering befriending services both in person and over the phone. One of those charities is Re-engage, which helps older people build vital social connections as their circles shrink in older age.

Re-engage is currently urgently seeking more call companions - volunteers who make regular phone calls to older people waiting for friendship and connection. Right now, there’s a three-month waiting list!

Re-engage Engagement Officer Shammie Robshaw-Bryan recently signed up to BVSC's platform Volunteer Brum to help the charity reach out to a wider pool of volunteers. She says:

“I’m over the moon with how easy it’s been to use BVSC’s Volunteer Brum platform.

As we're a charity run only thanks to volunteers to keep our services free, it was imperative we have a good volunteering platform across Birmingham, so we were exceptionally pleased to have Volunteer Brum as a platform, which is user-friendly in terms of adding roles and accepting applications."

Jane, a volunteer with Re-engage for more than ten years, runs a lively group at the New Inn in Harborne. She says:

“I started volunteering to take a break from the daily grind and to connect with the older generation I missed, as my family live far away. Volunteering has brought so much joy - I’ve met fascinating people and heard incredible stories. Who’d guess the lady with walking sticks used to be a ballerina, or that our grey-haired guest once delivered half the babies in the area as a community midwife? It’s a reminder that everyone has a story if we take the time to listen.

Many of our guests have lost daily contact with friends, but not their sense of humour or compassion. It’s lovely when they ask after me, too - it’s a real exchange of kindness.”

If you can spare a few hours to chat regularly with an older person, sign up through Volunteer Brum and help shorten the wait for someone who just needs a friendly voice.

You'll also find many other volunteering opportunities to help address isolation and loneliness on the Volunteer Brum platform. Check out the 'supporting others' section under the activities filter.