Telefriender

We as a Charity CCP was originally founded in 1989 by a local businessman in response to the growing number of homeless young people in Cheltenham. Recognising that people as young as 16 were sleeping rough around the town after having been thrown out of their family home, he purchased a building and opened a 10-bed hostel.

We have grown a lot since then and now aim to transform the lives of children, young people, families, and vulnerable adults by preventing homelessness, strengthening families and promoting independence. With a head office in Cheltenham, we currently employ 220 staff, backed up by a team of 160 volunteers, currently delivering services and projects in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, and Dorset.

We need you to help within: 

Telefriending offers supportive, reliable relationships through volunteer telefrienders to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. The results of telefriending can be very significant. It often provides people with a new direction in life, providing access to a range of activities and leading to increased self-esteem and self-confidence.

Telefriending can also reduce the burden on other services which people may use inappropriately as they seek social contact and support.

As a volunteer telefriender, you will be matched with a client from our team caseload. You will spend some time each week supporting that person by making a phone call to see how they are. Anyone requesting telefriending will already have received input from the Community Wellbeing Service at CCP – having a telefriender will provide more regular low-level contact for improved health and wellbeing.

We will ask of you to do the following:

Within our Community Well-being team we believe in the value and uniqueness of people, we welcome volunteers who have a range of skills and life experiences.

Through triaging we will match you to client that fits with your experiences and skills, typical activities can include:

• Read information provided by the Community Wellbeing Service about the client requesting a telefriending service
• Ring the individual to establish contact, and agree regularity of contact.
• Maintain regular contact on the times and dates agreed
• Complete a brief update after each contact and share with the Community Wellbeing Service