A North-East charity is appealing for volunteers to join a befriending service to improve mental health.
Newton Aycliffe-based Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) launched Every Call Counts (ECC), a free phoneline service in 2020 that is dedicated to supporting people through isolation with a friendly support network.
The phoneline has proven to be a lifeline for many in the community and so PCP is seeking volunteers to continue to deliver a strong mental health focused befriending service for County Durham.
PCP chief executive Carol Gaskarth said: “Volunteers have made a massive difference in shaping the impact of loneliness and isolation within our communities.
“Without their support we would not be able to deliver a variety of quality driven services, as volunteer support maximises PCP’s community reach.”
ECC is a service for those aged 18+ living in the County Durham area, that helps individuals build confidence, promote healthier living, independence as well as reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
The project has become an extremely beneficial for many individuals in lockdown, as sometimes talking to a friendly stranger about concerns can be easier than talking to a friend or loved one.
ECC is calling out for volunteers, known as Befrienders, to offer practical support through communication to help service users build confidence, access community resources or activities where available.
If you are interested in becoming a Befriender volunteer for PCP’s ECC service, get in touch by calling 01325 329324.
For future updates, visit www.facebook.com/PCPandCentre and PCP’s Twitter and Instagram @PioneeringCare
If you would like to find out more about PCP generally or to support our work please contact: Jenny Lee, Senior Marketing & Media Officer [email protected]