Re-engage

Charity registered in Scotland SC039377

Re-engage exists to support older people who live alone and find it hard to get out in normal times. The Covid-19 crisis is particularly devastating for these people and many are feeling incredibly vulnerable, especially those with few family members or friends to talk to.
In response to the crisis we’ve suspended our regular social gatherings and, with the help of our dedicated volunteers, have set up a UK-wide call companions service. Older people who are feeling alone can receive a regular friendly phone call throughout the crisis and beyond, for as long as they want it.
No one should have to face this crisis alone. We won’t leave anyone behind.


Current opportunities

As a call companion, you will make regular telephone calls to a lonely and isolated older person experiencing loneliness and isolation. These calls provide a lifeline of friendship for our older people, and the regular, warm, friendly chats and companionship provide a vital link with the outside world from which they have become isolated. Over time, you and the older person you have been matched with will get to know each other well and together you will spend many hours full of fun, laughter and stories. Tasks include calling the older person you have been matched with two to four times per month at an agreed time, following the guidance in your call companion training modules to ensure that your calls are enjoyable and keeping in regular contact with Re-engage.

Our tea party hosts are a vital part of the Re-engage team. Tea parties provide a lifeline of friendship for our older people and the regular, warm, friendly chats and companionship provide a vital link with the outside world from which they have become isolated. Re-engage needs enthusiastic volunteers to work as tea party hosts. This is a flexible, voluntary role that can easily be fitted in around your own lifestyle and availability. As a volunteer host you will run a local Re-engage tea party once or twice a year. You will host a group of four to 12 people (which includes drivers, the group co-ordinator as well as older guests) in either your home or a community venue. The tea parties will last around two hours and will usually take place on a Sunday afternoon. You must be comfortable socialising with people and providing guests and other volunteers with refreshments. You will need two references and to complete an ID check for this role. Tasks include: *Completing and submitting a host’s home checklist for your own home or signing a declaration if you’re hosting at an external venue before your first tea party and on an annual basis *Welcoming a group of older guests and volunteer drivers into your home or to the community venue *Providing and serving refreshments for your group – usually food and drinks for afternoon tea *Liaising with your group co-ordinator to ensure dietary requirements and the older guests' needs are met prior to the tea party *Informing the group co-ordinator of any safeguarding concerns or issues you might have *Following all guidance in your host training modules to ensure that the tea parties are enjoyable, appropriate and in line with our charitable aims

Our tea party drivers are a vital part of the Re-engage team. Tea parties provide a lifeline of friendship for our older people and the regular, warm, friendly chats and companionship provide a vital link with the outside world from which they have become isolated. Drivers take older people to the parties and stay with them to enjoy the get-together. Over time, drivers and older guests get to know each other well and together you will spend many hours full of fun, laughter and stories. As a tea party driver, you liaise with your group co-ordinator and take older guests to and from the tea parties each month. Staying at the tea party is part of your role, so it’s much more than being a driver. You will need to have a full, clean, driving license, and either a DBS (in England and Wales) or PVG (in Scotland). You will also need to check that you are covered by your regular motor insurance policy to do this role. Tasks include: * Driving one to two older guests using your own car to a tea party venue and returning them home again after the event  * Staying at the tea party to help with conversation and serve refreshments * Liaising with the group co-ordinator to confirm which older guests you will pick up * Informing the group co-ordinator of any safeguarding concerns or issues you might have * Following all guidance in your driver training modules to ensure that the tea parties are enjoyable, appropriate, and in line with our charitable aims * Completing a driver declaration before your first tea party and on an annual basis. The declaration is to confirm you will adhere to Re-engage's policies and procedures and that you have completed the relevant training provided for your role This is a flexible, voluntary role that can easily be fitted in around your own lifestyle and availability. As a tea party driver, you will be responsible for picking up one or two older guests from their homes usually on a Sunday afternoon once a month.  You will drive them to either a host's home or a community venue for an afternoon get-together to socialise and enjoy some refreshments . The parties last around two hours after which you drive them home again.

As a call companion, you will make regular telephone calls to an older person experiencing loneliness and isolation. These calls provide a lifeline of friendship for our older people and the regular, warm, friendly chats and companionship provide a vital link with the outside world from which they have become isolated. Over time, you and the older person you have been matched with will get to know each other well and together you will spend many hours full of fun, laughter and stories. You will need two references and to complete an ID check for this role. Tasks include: * Calling the older person you have been matched with two to four times per month at an agreed time * Following the guidance in your call companion training modules to ensure that your calls are enjoyable, appropriate and in line with our charitable aims * Keeping in regular contact with your call companion co-ordinator and letting them know how everything is going * Completing monthly online reports about your call companion calls This is a flexible, homebased voluntary role that can easily be fitted in around your own lifestyle and availability. Call companions call the older person they are matched with between two and four times per month, and each call lasts around 30 minutes. During your first call with the older person, you will decide together how often the calls will take place and at what time. This is a long-term voluntary role, so we are ideally looking for individuals who are able to commit to volunteering with us for at least 12 months. Please note that you must be at least 18 years old to volunteer as a call companion.