Linking Lives Aldridge is a voluntary group, launched in October 2019, which reaches out to support and befriend lonely and isolated people in the area. The group relies on more than 70 volunteers from all walks of life and is part of the UK-wide Linking Lives network, which works primarily with churches and Christian groups within communities.
Linking Lives Aldridge was founded by Bev Boden, minister at Aldridge Methodist church, after she arrived in the area in 2011. She noticed how Aldridge had an unusually high number of older, retired people compared to other areas – meaning many people were lonely and socially isolated. Bev now runs the group with Project Manager Elaine Watkins-Redfern, linking together lonely and isolated people with volunteer ‘befrienders’ for regular chats, visits and activities.
Linking Lives Aldridge operates two different ways of supporting lonely and socially-isolated people.
– Firstly, it connects people with volunteer befrienders, who may pay a weekly hour-long visit to chat and spend time with them
– Secondly, Linking Lives Aldridge gets to know isolated local people, to find out their interests and hobbies – before linking them with social groups or like-minded volunteers with whom they can enjoy their favourite activities.
Linking Lives Aldridge aims to help people who rarely have company – a growing problem in modern Britain.
It’s a sad fact that for two fifths of elderly people in the UK, the television is their main source of human interaction and company. The number of over-50s experiencing loneliness in the UK is set to reach two million by 2025-6. This compares to around 1.4 million in 2016-7 – a 49% increase in 10 years. There are 1.2 million chronically lonely older people in the UK. Half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all.
As a friendly and welcoming village, Aldridge is also a popular retirement spot and as a result has a higher than normal demographic of older people, many of whom live alone.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers from Aldridge Linking Lives have been unable to carry out their usual visits – so they have been reaching out to help lonely people with weekly phone calls instead.
The group is always on the look-out for people who want to volunteer, which can be a hugely rewarding way of helping your community. Bev and Elaine are keen to recruit volunteers from all walks of life, as a cross-section of the community gives a broader range of interests and skills to help link people together.
If you would like to know more about Aldridge Linking Lives – either because you are lonely, know someone who is lonely, or would like to volunteer – get in touch with Elaine on 07307 865973 or by email via Aldridge@linkinglives.co.uk. You can find out more on Facebook by following facebook@linkinglivesaldridge.