Volunteers needed to relieve social isolation in West Berkshire

The Newbury-based charity, Eight Bells is launching “Community Strength”.

This is an important new service that will provide community-based support from “Community Navigator” volunteers to reduce social isolation and support mental and physical wellbeing throughout West Berkshire.

This scheme will encourage and help adults to live independently, look after themselves and have a good quality of life.

Volunteers will help people aged 18 and above who:

● are as risk of loneliness and isolation, and/or
● have long term medical conditions, and/or
● are experiencing mental ill health, and/or
● have a physical or learning disability.

Eight Bells have a team of volunteers called Community Navigators. Community Navigators help people to connect with their local community, signposting them to services and activities which will support them to make new friends and networks. The charity wants people to feel confident to do things for themselves and encourage them to do things that will help them feel better and stay active for longer. This will help people to reduce feelings of loneliness or social isolation that they may be experiencing and help to support them in keeping safe and well.

A Community Navigator is a fully-trained volunteer who has good local knowledge and a clear understanding of what is going on in their community. They will signpost and support people to services or community-based activities. They will take the time to understand the needs and interests of the person they are
helping. By building confidence, they will be enabled to make better choices and build networks. It is not a befriending role.

To find out more please call Eight Bells for a chat on 07985 404 302 or email them at [email protected].

There are more details on the Eight Bells website.