Telephone Buddy Service
This is a new free service offered by St Catherine’s to support people under our care who may be feeling isolated, or who would benefit from talking to someone outside of their home.
This is your chance to speak to a volunteer who has been recruited and trained by St Catherine’s. Typically, this will be someone with their own experience of the hospice and most volunteers will already have experience of offering a friendly ear to our patients and carers.
Please speak to a member of St Catherine’s staff, email wellbeing@stch.org.uk or call 01293 447343 to see if a Telephone Buddy is available for you.
We use a matching process to try and find someone suitable for you. There may be a limited number of volunteers available at times, so the wellbeing team will discuss your options with you.
Who is this service for and how will it help?
This new service is designed to support patients and carers during the coronavirus outbreak. To be eligible for this support, you or the person you’re caring for must have been referred to St Catherine’s, and be under our hospice’s care.
Our Telephone Buddies can provide the type of support that a good friend or neighbour might offer you. They’ll talk to you about how you’re doing, offer encouraging advice and be there to listen to the things you like to talk about. They could read a book over the phone or discuss your favourite TV shows. Your Telephone Buddy can also give you details of other support services in your area, based on your needs. They will call you regularly at a mutually convenient day and time so you’ll get to know one another.
What can’t my Telephone Buddy do?
Our Telephone Buddies are not trained or paid carers. They can’t visit you, have face to face contact, or run errands for you if you’re isolating. Your Telephone Buddy is a friendly person for you to talk to on the phone.
If you need any other help, please ask them and they will help you access other relevant services.
Get in touch with us
For more information on our Telephone Buddy Service and how we can support you at home, please email wellbeing@stch.org.uk or call 01293 447343 and see if a volunteer is available for you. They’re all looking forward to their new role and their first phone call to support our community.
