COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
Supporting Communities by Reducing Isolation and Loneliness amongst vulnerable adults of all ages
“50% of disabled people will be lonely on any given day and loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death by 29%” – Holt-Lunstad, 2015
Community Supporters aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness amongst vulnerable adults, through matching trained volunteers to visit and befriend people in their own homes.
Community Supporters volunteers offer a crucial social lifeline and confidence boost to socially isolated Hackney and City residents through one to one weekly visits.
Community Supporters meet with their client on a weekly or regular basis, act as a listening ear, help build confidence and self-esteem, offer support in identifying and achieving goals and aspirations, and of course have fun!
The visits usually last between 1-2 hours and we encourage volunteers to not only engage in conversation but to find local activities, groups or events and share these experiences together.
We provide full support, supervision and training for all our volunteers, and take time and careful consideration to ensure that volunteers are suitably matched based on skills, interests and availability.
We are also delivering a project in partnership with Homerton Hospital and the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust to provide crucial support to people identified as “frequent users” of emergency services, to help people better manage their conditions.
Want to find out more about the role or you happen to know someone who you think could do with some company, email or call our programme manager Bridget Akinbolaji.
Read more about the updated Community Supporters role here
Email: communitysupporters@vchackney.org
Programme Manager
Bridget Akinbolaji (tel: 0207 241 4443)
Funders
Partners
We receive referrals from and partner with community mental health teams, emergency services including A&E and the Crisis Line, Adult Social Care, Homerton Hospital, GPs, and various charities and community groups including Family Action, St Joseph’s Hospice and Age UK.