Options - click an option to find out more	How our volunteers can help
Our Telephone Befriending Service	Advocacy and Support

 

How our volunteers can help

Help and Care has many dedicated people who give up their time to help others.

We are here to help with:

• Shopping – agreed short term shopping for food and other goods, and accompanying/escorting to the shops.
• Transport - accompany on public transport or in the car to meetings and appointments
• Support – an escort service to accompany you whenever you feel the need for some extra support. For instance to a new social club, to the bank or to shops.
• Telephone Befriending – Telephone support for older people who are isolated or vulnerable. See [link to telephone befriending] below.
• Pets – dog walking or accompanying you walking, pet feeding, taking pets or accompanying you to the vets, assisting in arranging kennels or catteries.
• Hospital - support in preparing for hospital admission.  Also escorting you to and from hospital, and help with settling in.
• Housing - moral support when moving house, and help settling in.
• Repairs – some small practical tasks, such as changing light bulbs, and taking down curtains.
• Gardening - Some practical tasks in the garden.
• Trades people - being present when trades people first visit. FBTS
• Money Friends – help with money queries, setting up direct debits with the bank, understanding statements etc
• Paperwork – completion of simple forms such as insurance claims forms, and applications.
• Letter Writing – both as a scribe to write the letter and assisting in the composition if required (we regret that we are unable to assist by means of help with writing in any matter relating to disputes or grievances. For more information about how we can help with these matters, call the Gateway helpline on 0845 4500 418).

If you, or someone you know, would benefit from any of these services, please call: Help and Care 0845 4500 418

Are these things that you could do for someone else? How to volunteer.

 

Telephone Befriending

Help and Care's telephone befriending service is a great way for otherwise isolated older people to have social contact and reassurance from a trained Help and Care volunteer – whether it is just someone to talk to, to check to see if you are okay, or for help and advice – we are here for you.

The telephone befriending service is for anyone over 55 in Dorset.  It supports people who are isolated and those whose families are going away, with a view to reducing loneliness and providing a sense of security.  It is a free service which allows isolated and potentially vulnerable older people to be contacted by a trained and police checked Help and Care volunteer – it is a listening ear, someone looking out for your well being, and a source of information.

Referrals for the telephone befriending service are usually made by a Help and Care Advocacy worker, social services or health professionals, but if you know someone who you feel  would benefit from this service, or if you feel that this service would improve your week, please call 0845 4500 418 and speak to an information worker.  Calls are made once a week on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoon, and followed up where appropriate.

 

Advocacy

Help and Care have a team of advocacy workers to support people on a one-to-one basis with more difficult situations.  It may be that you need help with choosing new accommodation, have financial worries and may be in debt, or don’t know how to respond to threats of legal action.

Advocacy workers are able to visit you in your own home or in hospital for individual short term support.  They represent the individual’s needs where they are experiencing difficulties and there is no-one to speak up on their behalf.

If you or someone you know would benefit from this service then call us and we will discuss your situation with you.