Dear supporter,
Last Christmas, you generously supported Re-engage’s Big Give Christmas Challenge and helped lonely and isolated older people to make new friends. I am writing to thank you for your support and to let you know how your generosity has had an especially powerful impact during the current crisis.
Thanks to donations such as yours, we were able to provide regular companionship to older people over the hard winter months and national lockdowns. We also grew our telephone befriending service, call companions, matching isolated older people with dedicated volunteers for regular calls.
We reached the milestone of 2,000 matches this spring, and continue to reach new older people every day. We are delighted that so many continue to benefit from the service - in our six month review, 92% of older people said they feel happier now they are receiving the calls.
“I’m getting a weekly call and I’m really enjoying that regular contact. I’m very lonely and it's so lovely to have someone on the end of the phone."
Since the onset of the pandemic we’ve also been keeping in contact with the older people in our suspended tea party groups. Our volunteers have been calling on a regular basis, providing comfort and conversation during a very difficult time.
“I know that they’ll always be there for me because they’ve kept in contact all through the pandemic…I’m not forgotten.”
We are now working hard to get everything in place to safely relaunch the tea party groups. The groups have been desperately missed by older people and volunteers a-like and we are very much looking forward to bringing them together again.
We are taking part in the Big Give again this year and will be in touch nearer the time to let you know more.
Thank you again for your support.
Meryl
Meryl Davies
Chief executive at Re-engage
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