Catherine Holligan to speak about the 'Be Friending Service'

On 26 April 2016, Catherine Holligan, who coordinates the twenty-four volunteers that are the backbone of the Crewe & Nantwich Befriending Service, spoke to Club.  She described the origins of the service, how it is funded, its organisation and achievements.

A partnership, linking St Luke’s and Wishing Well and drawing down funding from The Public Health Transformation Fund via Cheshire East, is providing a Befriending Service across Crewe & Nantwich.

The service aims to do a number of things; enabling people to feel less socially isolated and lonely, feel more connected to their community and be involved in an affirming, emotion- focused relationship.

Thirty people are currently benefitting from this befriender relationship and a further twenty are on a waiting list. Typically the clients are elderly people who find themselves becoming increasingly isolated and lonely. Many may not be able to live as independently as they would like due to frailty, life limiting illness, or poor mobility. They find themselves confined to their homes for large chunks of time.

Befriending is a process that allows a relationship to form between two people, a relationship that is beneficial to both the client and the befriender.  It is voluntary and based on mutual respect, offering a purposeful, emotion-focused affirming relationship that continues over time, providing the client with on-going emotional support and companionship.  Befriending complements social and domestic support it doesn’t replace it. Befrienders do not provide personal care but offer regular contact, emotional support, companionship and a link to the wider community.

The service matches up isolated, elderly frail people, many with failing health, to a trained, supported volunteer befriender. Where possible this match will be based on similar likes, dislikes, hobbies, and passions. The befriender visits the client in their own home on a regular basis, usually once a week for an hour or two. If appropriate the befriender and client may get out and about in the local community, visiting the local park or library, or they may simply choose to sit at home, do a crossword, have a chat, a cup of tea, and may-be a biscuit or two. Each befriending relationship will be different, just as all relationships are, it will be based on the needs and abilities of both client and befriender.

We heard about Nora and Albert who were benefitting from the service and noted the many complementary comments from a number of others who clearly value the companionship that the service provides.  The powerful messages that “loneliness is an invisible epidemic” and “making a new friend feels good” went home and gave Rotarians much food for thought.

Further information is available from Catherine on 01270 376686 or 07496073430 or by email to: Catherine_Holligan@stlukes-hospice.co.uk or by visiting the following websites: www.stlukes-hospice.co.uk www.wishingwellproject.com

Rtn Vic Croxson