Staying Connected

The service is for customers aged 50 and over.

Staying Connected is our telephone/in-person befriending service tackling loneliness and isolation

Telephone befriending

Our telephone befriending service gives people the opportunity to connect for regular, social telephone chats

They will get a call from our friendly, fully trained volunteers for an up to 30-minute chat at the same time each week.

It's ideal for those who:

May feel lonely at times
Are able to communicate over the phone

Community groups

Our in-person social befriending programme is designed to help older and vulnerable people overcome loneliness and isolation.

We organise event and activities in the North County Durham and West Northumberland areas.

Activities include:

Bingo
Quizzes
Coffee mornings
Information events
Film clubs
Men's clubs

They give you a chance to open up and have a laugh. You can meet new people, interact and have fun - it's great for your mental health and well being.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen if I request the telephone service?

It’s a quick and easy process to get signed up with our telephone befriending service, all we ask is that new service users complete an introductory application forms. One of our service managers will be in touch to complete the form over the phone. It will ask for a few details about health and hobbies and interests, so that we can match volunteers and users appropriately.

We will also ask for an emergency contact number, in case we are unable to get in touch with you and there is cause for concern.

All that we ask from users is that they let us know if they’re unavailable at their designated time that week, and that they are respectful to our volunteers.

You will then be matched with one of our trained volunteers, who will phone you on a weekly basis, at a set time that is convenient to you, for a social chat which can last up to 30 minutes.

Will it always last 30 minutes and what will we talk about?

It is completely up to the service user what is talked about on each call, and it can last the whole 30 minutes or last just five minutes, but what we can guarantee is that our Staying Connected volunteers will provide users with both friendship and lots of information about services and activities that could benefit them.

I know someone who would benefit from this, what do I do?

You can contact us and we’ll get someone to give you a call about the person you would like to receive the service.

New users often join Staying Connected after being referred by someone from within Karbon, such as a housing officer or a scheme manager.

Once referred, the service user will be contacted by a Staying Connected project co-ordinator who will chat about the service and how it may benefit them. They will not be pressured in to joining the service, it is their decision entirely.

How do I join the community groups?

Please get in touch with us by email or calling 0191 223 8662 and we'll give you more information.

Sign up

Find out more

Become a volunteer

Find out more

Achievement of the County Durham Volunteering Kite mark demonstrates that Staying Connected meets standards to overcome barriers to volunteering, and recognises the value of recruiting and retaining volunteers, as set out by Durham Community Action.