A borough charity is celebrating after being given a boost to continue a service that was launched when the country was plunged into lockdown. 

Age UK Bury, based at The Jubilee Centre on Mosley Avenue, has been handed £260,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund which will go towards supporting its befriending service.

This funding will support the service for three years. Befriending is widely used to support vulnerable and older people, particularly at critical moments in their life such as leaving hospital after an illness, periods of physical ill health, bereavement, or family members moving away.

When the country went into lockdown in 2020, Jane Lees, the befriending co-ordinator, and volunteers set up a telephone service, calling older people who could not leave their home but welcomed a friendly chat.

When the lockdowns ended, more than 140 people were receiving weekly phone calls. It was thought that the service would no longer be needed once life returned to normal, but Covid cast a long shadow over people’s health and wellbeing.

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Some older people have lost the confidence and motivation to leave their home and others had the lost the physical strength to get out and about. As a result, Age UK Bury is still calling more than 140 people per week.

As life opened up after Covid, the befriending service set up cluster groups comprised of people they were calling.

People meet at local cafes and events, close to their home and build up their own friendships with one another.

Face to face befriending was also set up for people who are housebound and/or those who struggle to speak on the telephone.

The new funding will enable Age UK Bury to consolidate its current work and develop online support to enable people to feel included in our community.

People who received the telephone calls said: “The calls cheer me up. I feel better when I receive a call. If it were not for Age UK Bury, I would be lost with everything I've been through”.

Another added: “I really enjoyed the friendliness and compassion on the calls”.

Another added: “People have no idea what a simple phone call can make when you have nobody else to turn to”.

Volunteers also get a lot of benefit from making the calls. One volunteer said: “I found myself no longer able to work but I still felt like I had something to offer others.

"Volunteering has helped me to get out, helped me to gain confidence and feel valued and part of a team.”

Another volunteer wrote “In retirement, I wanted to keep active and contribute to my community.

Volunteering gives my week a focus and it is a privilege to speak with people on the befriending line. I get to hear their fascinating stories.”

Andy Hazeldine, chief officer of Age UK Bury, said “We are over the moon with this news which enables us to support the most isolated older people living in our borough.

"We would never have got to this point without the support of councillors and officers of Bury Council who have supported our work over the last four years.

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"Special thanks go to our wonderful volunteers who make a massive difference to the lives of many older people in Bury with their phone calls and visits.”.

Cllr Tamoor Tariq, cabinet member for adult care, health and wellbeing at the council, said: “Age UK Bury does a tremendous job, providing vital support to hundreds of elderly people across Bury.

"We are delighted that they have won funding from the Lottery which will enable them to continue to help some of our most vulnerable residents.”

If you would like to know more about the service or volunteering with Age UK Bury, call 0161 763 9030 or email admin@ageukbury.org.uk