Not for Profit

‘Could you be a wellbeing hero?’ asks Community Action Network

By Sam Pither [email protected]

Published: November 9, 2023 | Updated: 10th November 2023

Community Action Network is looking for Wellbeing Volunteers who can help to combat loneliness in their community in 2024.

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With the new year steadily approaching, CAN is looking for people in the BCP area who might be thinking about giving back to their community as part of their New Year’s resolution.

Following a successful pilot of the CAN Wellbeing Volunteers pilot program in August 2022, the charity is offering a package to volunteers which includes a complimentary Enhanced DBS check, two hours of training, ongoing support from the volunteer coordinator, free Beryl Bike minutes, and more.

With Age UK reporting that one in four people over the age of 50 often experience loneliness – a challenge which intensifies across the holiday season – volunteers are critical at this time to take pressure off NHS services.

CAN Wellbeing Volunteers look to alleviate this through telephone and in-person befriending as well as task-based assistance such as medication pick-up and deliveries. With no minimum time commitment, volunteers can choose a flexible schedule that aligns with their availability.

CAN, a non-profit supporting small charities and community groups in the BCP and Dorset areas, has seen a critical need for personalized volunteering services focused on wellbeing.

So far, their friendship and wellbeing volunteering project has provided over 200 hours of support, and CAN is now getting ready for an increase in referrals in the new year.

A person who received support from a telephone befriender, stated: “Jane had a way of saying things that made me feel like she totally got it and understood me. She made me think I was normal, and my thoughts weren’t irrational.

“You can spiral sometimes in your own mind and by offloading to someone else, the little voice in your head can go away. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience”.

Abi Squires, Wellbeing Collaborative Volunteer Coordinator, encourages anyone looking to give back in the new year to sign up and begin the training process as soon as possible. “It all begins with a very simple sign-up form, and then I’m here to help every step of the way,” she added.

“We welcome applications from anyone, whether you have 10 minutes a week or a few hours, we have something that will work for you.

“As a Wellbeing Volunteer, you could be bringing a little joy to a lonely person who needs it by being a friendly face they see each week, or helping out doing an odd job they can’t do by themselves.

“If you have even a tiny amount of time to spare and want to do some good, get in touch!”

A Wellbeing Volunteer who participated in the initial pilot program said “It has been very rewarding knowing that you have made a difference to someone in need. It turns out that I needed somebody as much as somebody needed me.”

One of the heart-warming case studies involves a telephone wellbeing volunteer match between Gaby and Charlie.

Their first call fostered a “beautiful connection,” making Gaby eagerly anticipate each phone call. Gaby reflected: “Charlie said the right things at the right time, and it lifted me up so much.

“I found my mood was better after our conversations, and the whole day was set after we chatted. We were able to talk about anything and everything, which is just what I needed.”

Gaby and Charlie both described the experience as “beautiful and fulfilling,” leaving a lasting impact on both of them even after the calls concluded, as they shared “endless laughter and stories.”

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