Local charity wins more support to combat loneliness from local businesses
Shrewsbury-based charity Omega care for life has launched a new appeal to support a telephone befriending service aimed at socially isolated people, especially carers, former carers and the bereaved.
The Chatterbox project offers free, confidential one-to-one support to anyone who is isolated and lonely in their own home, or at risk of becoming socially isolated. The flexible service offers companionship and information. The project has received financial support from Wolverhampton City Council, Wolves Aid (Wolves Community Trust), Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, social fundraising, commercial sponsorship and public donations.
The charity would like to thank Turner Peachey Chartered Accountants and Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents Association have recently donated £100 each.
More fund raising events are being planned including a family cycle ride in conjunction with Cycle Shrewsbury and Urban Bikes Shrewsbury. The charity cycle ride in aid of the Chatterbox appeal is on Saturday 23 February 2013. Everyone is welcome to join this family friendly 10 mile ride at a cost of £3 per rider (families £5). The event will start at Shrewsbury Market Hall at 10am.
Omega Development Director Tom Memery said: “Omega meets lots of people who are unable to attend events or get support from family or friends... Chatterbox can help beneficiaries to rebuild confidence and make fresh connections.”
Omega is extending the service to reach even more isolated people. More money is needed to recruit, train, and manage new volunteer befrienders. Chatterbox is a low cost, high impact project, so small amounts can make a big difference.
Omega care for life (Omega, the National Association for End of Life Care) is an end of life charity which provides befriending and bereavement support and works with family carers looking after people suffering from long-term or life-limiting conditions and socially isolated individuals.
Omega has also been chosen by Giving Websites (www.givingwebsites.co.uk), an exciting new initiative from Clickingmad (www.clickingmad.com), a web development company working with small to medium businesses in the Midlands. Clickingmad clients can choose to pledge regular support to a local charity.
Make a donation:
To donate by text, send a message to 70070; type the code omeg01 followed by a space and the amount you want to give from the following amounts: £1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £10. You will receive a text message receipt and the change to add Gift Aid. Every penny of your donation will go to Omega; there are no running costs with JustTextGiving. To donate by card or cheque, go to www.omega.uk.net and click the ‘Donate’ button on the homepage.
Other ways to get involved:
You could organise your own fundraising event, apply to work as a voluntary befriender, or tell someone who might benefit from telephone befriending about Chatterbox.
