Charity Worker in Lockdown 7

Charity Workers in Lockdown Stories

How our staff are adapting to the new normal

• The Essential Shopper
• New Mum on the Run
• Admiral Nurse on the Farm
• Carer versus Career Mum
• Paddle Like Crazy
• It’s cake but not as we know it
• With a little help from my befrienders
• Reggie to the Rescue!
• Looking after our staff

It’s Beverley Swan’s first anniversary as our Befriending Coordinator today. She tells us about her journey here.

Today is my first anniversary as Befriending Coordinator with Age UK North Tyneside and who could ever have predicted my first year?
Before lockdown, our Befrienders made weekly home visits to an isolated older person. Someone unable to access their community: just like many of our older family members and friends.

COVID-19 changed everything and our home visit service was temporarily suspended. Today, I’m proud to say that we are supporting more people than ever before and we’re doing it by telephone. There are more than 150 people in our Telephone Befriending Service.
It is likely that we have all been affected by loneliness this year, personally or by supporting someone close to us. The good news is we have Befrienders ready to offer you or someone you care about a reliable, trusting telephone relationship

I don’t want anyone in North Tyneside to miss out because they feel uncomfortable asking for help. We are a great new service, reaching out to a new audience, there’s a first time for everything and our service is free.

• Ada said “Joan’s like the daughter I never had.”
• Roz said “I’ve just had my first phone call and it was wonderful.”
• Bill said “We are really good friends now, we chat about anything.”

This isn’t about smartphones or social media networks. Our Befrienders are there for you, ringing twice a week for a friendly chat.
Be brave and ring 0191 2808484 for help, so we can do more to make a difference.

From a lady who loves her job,