‘A simple call can make a massive difference’: Charity offers free calls to help lonely older people

A charity is urging mobile phone owners to use their free minutes to help isolated and lonely older people. 

Re-engage has more than 300 people over 75 years old waiting to join its telephone befriending service which is urgently seeking people to spend 30 minutes a week or fortnight talking to an older person. 

Sally Flowers, head of service delivery at Re-engage, said: “Many people get free minutes as part of their phone deal and we are appealing to them to be generous and use them for a very good cause. 

“We have hundreds of older people who really just need someone to talk to. Many of them are incredibly lonely and may not see or hear from anyone from week to week. 

 “A simple telephone call brings them great comfort and can make a massive difference to their lives.

“We also know from what our volunteers tell us that they get a huge amount of satisfaction from talking to an older person.

“We’re not asking them to give up much time and they don’t need any special skills – just to be a good, friendly listener.”

Since Re-engage started its call companion service three years ago, about 3,000 older people have been paired with a volunteer.

If you want to help an older person by becoming a Re-engage call companion, visit reengage.org.uk.

(Picture: Kampus Productions/Pexels)