The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Be Like Dy - Be an Angel in Neston

Neston Angels' newest volunteer recruit is going to be popping in to Neston Community Youth Centre, where he'll be making weekly 'phone calls to help combat loneliness amongst older people in the area.  More people like Dy are needed!

Dyson, or Dy as he prefers to be known, is a very active 84 year old former insurance salesman.  He has a natural gift for establishing a rapport with people and he's keen to help break down the isolation that many older people face when living alone.

Having recently stood down as treasurer of the Wirral Advanced Motorists organisation after 15 years, he has been quick to find another very worthwhile use of his spare time.

Dy - volunteering with Neston Angels to befriend older people in the local area.

Dy says: "I'm still very independent and able to get out and about, but I know there are lots of older people in Neston who can't. I'm hoping I can make a difference just by giving a few hours of my time each week to pick up the 'phone and have a chat with Neston Angels clients.

"I'm looking forward to working in the office at NCYC too. It's a lively place, with all types of people in and out all the time, and they look after their volunteers pretty well, with endless supplies of tea and even a biscuit now and again!''

Volunteers become befrienders

Neston Angels has been matching up volunteers with older people living alone since 2014, and has volunteers and clients from Neston, Parkgate, and Willaston. Volunteers train to become befrienders, and visit one or two clients at home on a regular basis to provide company and a chat. Where possible, befrienders will support their client to get out into the community, such as coming to the monthly Senior Matinees at NCYC, or lunching at the weekly Welcome Café at Neston Methodist Church.

Community Activities Co-ordinator, Zaria Shreef said: "I am really happy to have Dy join the team. Because we don't currently have enough volunteers, some of our clients have been on our waiting list for befrienders for quite a while.

"Dy's going to make a big difference - now we can provide clients with a weekly chat with a friendly voice, to break up what can be a lonely time if you're on your own. Dy is perfect for this role - he's friendly, caring, and best of all, he'll understand the issues facing older people as he's a similar age himself."

Clients to Neston Angels are referred by health professionals, friends and family and registration is a simple process, although there is currently a long waiting list for people wanting befrienders.

Be a Neston Angel

Clearly, Neston Angels urgently needs more volunteers. Its current team of volunteer befrienders are a mixture of young and old, working and retired. They all receive training and support, and the occasional social, to assist them in their role.

Experience is not essential, just a commitment to regular visits for an extended period, on a weekly or fortnightly basis for 1 to 2 hours.

If you would like more information on becoming a befriender, or know someone who would benefit from a regular visit, please contact Zaria Shreef on 0151 336 7805 or email at zaria@nestoncyc.co.uk.  More info on www.nestoncyc.co.uk.

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Comments

John Cartlidge

At 08:04 on 6th September 2017, John Cartlidge commented:

Good on you Dy, your fellow 'friends' and the organisers of this service.

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