Thank You to the National Lottery

We are extremely grateful to the for National Lottery Awards for All for supporting our Keeping In Touch Telephone Service with a grant of £9,832. This will ensure we can keep the service running until March 2023.

During the first national lock down, in March 2020, the Keeping in Touch telephone service was set up, responding to the need that people were living in extreme isolation, unable to see their family or friends.

We believed that the need for telephone support would reduce as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted but we have found many people are still struggling with a loss of confidence in leaving their home. Some have lost their partners and friends and have no one to meet up with. Others are experiencing problems with personal mobility, having spent so long at home. We are currently supporting over 150 people a week, making over 200 phone calls.

The feedback we receive from the people we call has made the service worthwhile.  

• “It has been a pleasure to converse with everyone over the past year. You have all been brilliant, just to listen to me rambling on, when I have spent so many hours alone.”
• “Helped to relieve loneliness now my husband is in a care home.”
• “Been very supportive in the hard times and helping me cope with all the changes with the pandemic.”
• “Without the calls, I would not be here today. I owe Age UK Bury so much, so when I am better, I would like to help with the calls next year.”
• “It has been a lifeline when you live alone and don’t speak to anyone for days.”
• “I look forward to the telephone call each week. It is nice to talk and breaks my week.”

We have recruited a great team of volunteers to help us meet the demand and we are looking for new volunteers who can spare a few hours to make a difference to people’s lives. Call 0161 7633 9030 or email jane@ageukbury.org.uk for more details.