Warm Welcome Bournemouth booklets are below, please print these out or look inside for all the places where you can find refreshments and friendship. Please feel free to share these about and let people know the activities in their area.
Combine the resources, compassion and localness of the churches that are in every community to “re-connect” 1000 older people in Bournemouth so that we stop the increase in loneliness in our town
We accept referrals from anyone, including individuals, as long as the referred person has given permission, is over 65 and lives in Bournemouth.
Meeting up - We will meet with the person to identify activities and additional support that will help them maintain their independence.
Connecting - We will make sure that they can get to these activities (and come too if that’s helpful).
Keeping contact - We will provide regular telephone support or find a volunteer to drop in and chat on a regular basis if needed.
Making sure it works - We will contact the person after a while to make sure they are happy and see if there is anything else we can do to help
How can you join in?
Give a little time - Could you drop in to chat with someone who’s feeling lonely; or help at a regular club or event; or be willing to drive people to activities; or even become a telephone befriender? Just a couple of hours per month could transform a lonely life.
Give - financially 3 people giving £5 per month would allow us to re-connect someone with their local community.
Partner - Can we help equip your church or group to reach out to the lonely in their community?
Pray - Can we send you regular information so that you can pray for an end to the growing epidemic of loneliness.
At our recent breakfast we talked about the major issue of transport for older people and how a lack of transport often means that people become housebound, not because they can't physically get out.
We want to encourage churches to help local Community Transport Charity Sedcat Community Transport to find volunteers so in turn, they will have resources to help transport people to the groups and activities happening in the churches. Genius, right?