New Travel Companionship Service
Published on 05 April 2023 01:25 PM
Learn more about Travelling Companions with Co-Ordinator, Lisa Hodges...
Tell us about your Role as a Travel Companion Co-Ordinator
As a travel companion coordinator I help clients to access their surroundings and community. This might be helping them to go for a walk, which could then lead to them getting to a local shop, bus stop or train station. Accessing public transport could mean that they can access groups, events, appointments and family members independently and not have to rely on other people to take them.
I use coaching techniques and lots of encouragement to get clients to realise that they can still go outside safely and that hopefully by the end of the programme they will be able to do this on their own.
What do your clients get out of the support provided?
Our clients have improved confidence in being able to go out, it helps to combat loneliness and social isolation. It can give a client a sense of self worth as they are able to do things independently again, this might just be being able to do some shopping on their own that they previously relied on a neighbour or family member to do. Older people are prone to suffering from “low mood” and this can help to alleviate this.
" I love meeting with people and trying to make a positive difference in their lives, it is so important for people to stay physically and mentally active and encouraging them to get out and mix with people can be literally life changing. Seeing a client's confidence grow is so rewarding and gives great job satisfaction."
Talk us through a typical week as a Travel Companion Co-Ordinator
Initially I check to see if I have any new referrals. If I do I would contact the client and arrange an initial visit where I can discuss goals and what they would like to get out of the scheme. I would then visit my ongoing clients. This could be making a bus, taxi or train journey with them to go to the shops, an appointment, an activity or just to go for a walk. It is very varied as to what people want to do and what their aims are.