Volunteering Opportunity: Volunteer call companion with Re-engage

Our Call Companion service connects a volunteer with an older person, aged 75 or over, who is experiencing loneliness and isolation. As a Call Companion volunteer, you’ll make a regular phone call, typically once a week, to foster friendship, enjoyment and conversation.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Bedford, Broxbourne, Central Bedfordshire, Dacorum, East Herts, Epping Forest, Harlow, Hertsmere, Luton, Milton Keynes, North Herts, St Albans, Stevenage, Three Rivers, Uttlesford, Watford, Welwyn/Hatfield

Location: From home

Time of day: To Be Discussed

Practical Considerations: A flexible, homebased volunteering role that fits around your availability.
No personal details are ever shared with your match, with calls made via our secure befriending platform.
To keep our services free for older people, we can’t pay expenses for this role.
You’ll be over 18 and able to commit to 12 months of volunteering (approximately 26 hours over a year).

Requirements (additional): You can demonstrate patience and empathy. You are responsible, will uphold our boundaries and raise any worries or concerns with Re-engage. You will endeavour to keep conversation friendly, positive and engaging. You are able to complete online training.

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, University students, Older People, People with a visual impairment, People with restricted mobility

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Isolation & Loneliness, LGBTQ+, Older People

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
Our Call Companion service connects a volunteer with an older person, aged 75 or over, who is experiencing loneliness and isolation. As a Call Companion volunteer, you’ll make a regular phone call, typically once a week, to foster friendship, enjoyment and conversation.

This role description sets out the aims and expectations of the role, your responsibilities and Re-engage’s commitment to supporting you as a volunteer.

Your role:
Call the older person you’ve been matched with for approximately 20-30 minutes, usually once a week.
Provide companionship over the phone by talking about interests, experiences and by providing a listening ear.
Maintain the boundaries set out in our training and report any concerns to Re-engage.
Keep your knowledge and training up to date by reading our volunteer newsletter – Re-engage Matters – sent monthly by email.
To become a Call Companion you’ll need to:
Complete an induction – you might choose to attend a group induction or watch our pre-recorded video.
Submit an ID check – you’ll need either a passport, driving licence, national insurance number or national identity card to do this.
Provide a character reference – your referee can be an employer, a colleague, a friend, neighbour or community representative.
Complete online training – these modules will help you get the most out of the role and take approximately one hour to complete.