Befriending/Isolation

BCP and Dorset Libraries provide a free delivery of books and talking books from each of their libraries to those who find it difficult to access the library themselves; it can be delivered short or long term, and is available to carers. Books are chosen individually for each person, and delivered every 3 or 4 weeks by a Royal Voluntary Service volunteer, providing not only a regular supply of new reading materials, but also a much looked forward to visit.
We have strong teams of volunteers in both Christchurch and Highcliffe Libraries, and we would welcome new referrals to our service.

Loneliness and isolation can have a big impact on the health and wellbeing of older people. Age UK Bournemouth, Poole & East Dorset provides a Community Connections Service to help tackle the causes of isolation and loneliness.

The service aims to enable older people to:

Overcome the barriers of isolation & loneliness
Share the company of others
Talk to someone
Pursue interests & activities in the local community
Maintain independence and gain information, enabling clients to stay at home for longer

Everyone is welcome to the Twynham Friendship Group

It takes place every 1st and 3rd Thursday morning of the month in the Church Lounge at Twynham from 10am until midday

Get together, meet and make friends, and have a good natter!

Tea, coffee, biscuits and chatter .. Jigsaws .. Games .. Newspapers .. Book & Jigsaw Swap Corner….

Plus a programme of different activities including occasional guest speakers; fun quizzes; a reflection on Easter followed by lunch; a Platinum Jubilee event with a Fish & Chip lunch; and much more!

The Friendship Group is also a place to rest, reflect, and find spiritual and friendly support.

A 2-course hot lunch, for people over the age of 60 at Greystones Hall, Christchurch.
Approx £3 for a 2 course hot lunch (please call to confirm)

Safe and Sound Dorsetis a charity for women who are isolated or at risk, we aim to build confidence through creativity and community.

Our drop-in creative sessions run four times a week where we engage in craft, DIY, art, health and well-being, and lots more. We eat together and there’s access to a hot shower and a washing machine for anyone who needs it.

We offer advice for housing, education and employment, 1-1 mentoring and specialist help for things like Universal Credit online applications. With our 1-1 work we can support with personal appointments such as doctors, hospital, housing, prison, rehab and recovery, and court.

Our evening outreach is where we meet girls at their most vulnerable, offering support and signposting them to our sessions and other relevant services in the area. We are passionate about seeing all women discover and realise their full potential, fully integrating and participating in society. We see the value of all women, and we work to build confidence in each other through community and creativity.

We have a number of Friendship Groups across the area. Each group meets weekly and aims to be a place where people can make new friends and participate in social activities.
Refreshments are provided for a donation.

If you are interested in attending please just pop along or for more information visit the website or call us.

We have 45 clubs under our umbrella and meet in a grade 2* listed building with views to the Isle of Wight.

We sing, dance, play cards, petanque, table tennis, we have art and crafts and much more.

We are run by volunteers and we would welcome you to our community.

Reducing loneliness and social isolation amongst older people by bringing generations together in friendship and shared experiences.

Everyone should have the chance to make new friends, our group and one-to-one activities will help you expand your social circle in a friendly, safe environment.

Tea parties

Our tea parties are free monthly social groups open to people aged 75 and over. They are a chance for a change of scenery and regular afternoons of conversation and laughter with friends of all ages. You will even be taken there and home again so don’t need to worry about organising travel.

Call companions

Would you like a regular friendly chat over the phone with your very own call companion? Call companions is available to anyone aged 75 and over who would benefit from a regular chat over the phone with a friendly volunteer.

“Getting a call companion is the best and most valuable thing I’ve ever done.”

The award-winning rainbow call companions

Rainbow call companions is an award-winning free service for older LGBT+ people who are lonely, isolated or in need of companionship and feel they would enjoy a friendly phone call every week or two with a volunteer who is also LGBT+.

We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem in Dorset gets support and respect.

Trained volunteers provide one-to-one support to promote social inclusion.  They support and encourage people to access their own community and create social opportunities. This helps increase their self confidence and social interactions.

Who can access our Befriending service?

• Anyone who is aged 18+ and experiences mild to moderate Mental Wellbeing Challenges
• People that would like support to develop positive mental wellbeing.
• Anyone who is ready to take active steps to work towards recovery goals which will include reducing social-isolation, improving confidence and self-esteem.

The Silver Line Helpline is a free, confidential telephone services just for older people. We provide friendship, conversation and support, 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week, 52 weeks of the year.

We need connection whatever our age – especially if we live alone or further away from family. The Silver Line Helpline gives older people the opportunity to exchange a friendly word, access support, or enjoy a long enriching conversation.

Come and join us in a friendly, safe cafe. It’s the easiest way to make a new friend.

Look out for anyone wearing our pin badge.

Morning (hosted) Chat Clubs: 11 – 12:30

Monday – Serenitea, Parkstone, BH14 9BN

Tuesday – Haskins Garden Centre, Longham, Ferndown, BH22 9DG

Wednesday – Delfino Lounge, Poole, BH15 1ER

Thursday – Circo Lounge, Westbourne, BH4 9DZ

Friday – The Well, Boscombe, BH1 4BT

Saturday All Day – Doggy Chat and Chill Slades Farm BH10 4BU (10 to 3pm)

Chat Club Local Afternoons: 2:30 – 4pm

Monday  – Conto Lounge, Wimborne Road, Winton, BH9 2HB

Tuesday – Arcado Lounge, High Street, Christchurch, BH23 1AS

Wednesday  – Coffee Garden, Highcliffe, BH23 5EB

Thursday  – Ludo Lounge, Seabourne Road, Southbourne, BH6 3RS

Friday  – Marks & Spencers, Castlepoint, BH8 9UL

Saturday All Day – Doggy Chat and Chill Slades Farm BH10 4BU (10 to 3pm)

Provide short-term volunteer support to people in BH23 who don’t have a network of family or friends available to support them in times of crisis or illness. It is the community helping the community where both client and volunteer benefit from the experience.

Christchurch University of the Third Age (U3A) offers a programme of educational and leisure activities for those not in full-time employment, and is part of a worldwide movement. Members with similar interests meet during the day in small groups, usually weekly or fortnightly and at various venues. The main aim is to advance the education of retired & semi-retired people and assist them in pursuing their interests within a social environment.

Wessex Cancer Trust is here to support you and your loved ones through your personal cancer experience . We offer Counselling, complimentary therapies, pampering, activities and coffee mornings. We provide the best possible personalised wellbeing support for you and your family in a tranquil and sensitive setting.

Our volunteers offer a warm welcome and will listen non-judgementally to your experiences and concerns.

Call or email us to find more about our services.

Age Concern Christchurch (ACC) aims to improve the quality of life for thousands of older people across the borough, helping them to retain their independence safely and with dignity to get the most out of life. We aim to be responsive and innovative, flexible and community driven.

We provide befriending services for over 65s, friendship groups and transport for shopping and day trips. We have two retail shops in Bargates and Tuckton too.

We provide a weekly two course home-cooked meal to the community for £3.50pp.

The purpose of lunch club is specifically to target loneliness by bringing older people together in a safe and welcoming environment.

It is important to us that mobility does not create a barrier to accessibility, teamed with Christchurch Community Partnership we are able to offer our residents a door-to-door bus service for £1 return.

Homechoir is a digital choir and community, now approaching its third year of singing together online. Homechoir is free to all with no formal membership. Our MD, Ben, was awarded a BEM for his work on Homechoir in the 2021, and is currently a finalist for the Francesca Hanley Inspiration Award, as part of the Music and Drama Education Awards 2022.

Times for the weekly live broadcasts are:
– 2pm Mon – Songs from the international folk music repertoire
– 2pm Wed – Classical and traditional music
– 2pm Fri – “Fun Friday”: a rolling programme of fun and comedic songs
– 11am Sun – “Sacred Sing”: non-denominational, music from international spiritual traditions

We are a UK wide charity offering one to One tech support. We support older people and People of any age who are disabled to achieve their goals online. Our volunteers are Enhanced DBS checked, plus undergo a rigorous interview process to ensure the safety of all.
We currently have a free helpline and more than 300 UK wide carefully selected  AbilityNet Tech support volunteers who offer one to one support in disabled and older clients’ homes with technology, whether it is a laptop, computer, tablet or smartphone.  We offer impartial advice, help set up new equipment, or show people how to set up email, online shopping, connect with family and friends etc.   Our offer is also quite niche as we offer advice and support on how to make an individual’s device work for them, for example, if we were to support a visually impaired client we would identify their need and show them how to adjust their device to make it more accessible by making the font bigger or setting up talk back.

Our services all seek to address the significant issue of social isolation which impacts on residents across both the age and socio-economic spectrum and to improve the quality of life for all who live and work in Christchurch.​​​

Christchurch Angels. Volunteers provide initial 1:1 support to help clients to rebuild their confidence (perhaps after a bereavement or long period of isolation with ill health) and will accompany them to activities/Lunch Club/support group initially. If they are unable to physically reconnect with activities, they can be signposted to other services.

Telephone Friendship Groups. Volunteers lead a weekly social interaction with a small group of similarly isolated folk perhaps around a shared interest or hobby (e.g., Book Club/Gardening/Men’s Shed).

Helpful Neighbours. Volunteers can undertake a small household task (hang a blind/change a lightbulb/assist with technology) to enable people to manage in their own home but also perhaps provide a way into other services/support.

Dial a Bus & Neighbour Car services. Volunteers drive a small minibus or use their own car to help provide weekly shopping trips for those unable to access public/private transport, to support access to Lunch Clubs, to offer transport to support groups (e.g., Carers/Dementia/Men’s’ Sheds/Widows/Widowers Clubs) and to assist those with additional support needs to access medical and other essential appointments. Volunteer Buddies also accompany people on the buses offering company and conversation during the journey as well as assistance getting on and off the buses.