A few months ago, I joined The Silver Line as a volunteer. It is a charity set up in 2013 by Esther Rantzen, where volunteers either write, or have phone conversations with people who have contacted the charity to say that they're lonely. Currently, they are very short of volunteers, due to the increasing numbers of elderly people contacting them.
I have attached a copy letter from the CEO asking for help, and would just ask any members of the forum who might be interested to have a look at the website.
I now have a 30 minute conversation with 'James' from Derby each Wednesday evening. It is very little effort from me, but makes a big difference to James.
The joining process is very easy, training and safeguarding issues all taken into account professionally.

Thanks for taking time to read this.

Cheers Mark

Dear Volunteer,

As well as the 1500 calls that we receive each day at the helpline we are busy in the matching team at head office as well as we still have over 1000 lonely older people waiting to be matched with a telephone frie[/i]nd. This number increases daily, as new people contact us to ask for our help. Unfortunately we are now running very low on the number of volunteers who wish to be a telephone friend, and very much hope you might be able to help us overcome this challenge.

Although we now have Regional Volunteer Managers, we are still a very small staff team, and don’t have the manpower to ‘get the word out’, within communities around the UK. However, our volunteers are spread all over the UK, so with your help, we will be able to spread the word much more easily.

We have identified a number of ways in which you could help, including;

· Speaking to another older person each week

· Introducing one of your own friends to Silver Line Volunteering

· Putting up volunteering posters, or handing out leaflets within your community

· Contacting local organisations e.g. churches, Women’s Institutes, Men’s Clubs, to tell them about us and our volunteering opportunities

· Telling your employer about what we do – this could open up opportunities for corporate volunteering or even becoming “Charity of the Year” within your company

· Letting us know of local opportunities to promote The Silver Line

· Become a Silver Line Community Engagement Volunteer or Community Champion, where you would receive training and resources to help you promote Silver Line in your local community

If you would like to do any of the above, or can think of another way in which you can help, then we would very much like to hear from you as soon as possible! Please contact your Volunteer Manager Ian, who will be happy to talk about the support you can offer.

With much appreciation for all of your support and many thanks in advance

Ian Williamson-Owens
North West Volunteer Manager
Office: 020 7224 2020 Direct line: 0203 7939 194 Mobile: 07708771550
E-mail: ian.williamson@thesilverline.org.uk
www.thesilverline.org.uk