This October, we're celebrating ten years of Silver Talk, our telephone befriending service.
To mark the occasion, we spoke to some of the amazing volunteers and service users to find out why it's so special.
Susan has been volunteering for Silver Talk for two years:
"I’ve always been involved with the community and during lockdown I realised there were a lot of people who were isolated. As a pensioner and conscientious citizen, I wanted to see how I could help.
"I found out about Silver Talk through Facebook and some of my connections in the community and thought it sounded like a great idea.
"I find it really uplifting and rewarding. I look forward to talking to them and they look forward to talking to me. We can’t wait to find out what each other has been doing."
One of our customers who uses Silver Talk is Olive, a 90 year old from Prudhoe. She started using the service after all three of her sisters sadly passed away over the course of a year:
"I was from Cumbria originally, so I don’t have a lot of friends nearby. There was no one to ring and no one to ring me. I was suffering with depression and anxiety because of it. Since I wasn’t able to go out to social events, my doctor recommended signing up to Silver TaIk.
"It’s nice to have someone to be able to talk to. It’s just a pleasure – it’s like I have a sister back. It’s someone who’s really interested in me, she remembers things about me and brings them up on our calls.
"Silver Talk is there consistently every week at the same time. Even when my volunteer was ill, they arranged for someone else to call me which was really lovely. They’re all really nice."
Anne has volunteered with Silver Talk for four years. She sees the people she talks to as friends rather than service users:
"It was especially important during the lockdowns when people were so isolated. I would be the only contact they have.
"I look forward to talking to them – I watch the clock waiting for the call. It cheers me up if I’m down. They say, “You make my day.” Some of them are sitting on the phone waiting for me to call – they answer straight away.
"I speak to 13 people in total. When you’re doing it you get so involved with them, you become part of their family. I’m a daughter, I’m a sister."
Michael, a 62 year old customer from Prudhoe is full of praise for the service:
"The person who calls me, is a lovely lady. She's like a second mum. She’s a saint.
"I started using it March 2020 during the first lockdown.
"I’ve been registered blind and had hit rock bottom at the time. The Miners Lamp, a community hub in Prudhoe, got in touch to help me. They were the ones who introduced me to Silver Talk
"It really cheered me up. It helped me during lockdown.
"I would really recommend the service, especially for people who are on their own and want to get to know people."
Volunteer, Ann feels that being both a good talker and a listener has made her a good volunteer:
"As someone who is on their own as well, it’s nice to have someone to have a regular chat with. It’s really good for people who are on their own, like me and like to talk to others.
"It’s nice to get to know to different people. Some are easy to talk to and some take a little longer to open up, but they are all really nice. You just need to listen, show empathy and give support when needed."
How to get involved with Silver Talk
If you can spare an hour or two each week and enjoy listening, chatting and getting to know people, volunteering with Silver Talk is the perfect way to give something back. You can do it from your home and Karbon can provide volunteers with a smartphone to make the calls. Find out more on our Silver Talk volunteering page.
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from speaking to a Silver Talk volunteer or would like you volunteer, please contact us by calling 0191 223 8662 or email silvertalk@karbonhomes.co.uk.
This October, we're celebrating ten years of Silver Talk, our telephone befriending service.
To mark the occasion, we spoke to some of the amazing volunteers and service users to find out why it's so special.
Susan has been volunteering for Silver Talk for two years:
"I’ve always been involved with the community and during lockdown I realised there were a lot of people who were isolated. As a pensioner and conscientious citizen, I wanted to see how I could help.
"I found out about Silver Talk through Facebook and some of my connections in the community and thought it sounded like a great idea.
"I find it really uplifting and rewarding. I look forward to talking to them and they look forward to talking to me. We can’t wait to find out what each other has been doing."
One of our customers who uses Silver Talk is Olive, a 90 year old from Prudhoe. She started using the service after all three of her sisters sadly passed away over the course of a year:
"I was from Cumbria originally, so I don’t have a lot of friends nearby. There was no one to ring and no one to ring me. I was suffering with depression and anxiety because of it. Since I wasn’t able to go out to social events, my doctor recommended signing up to Silver TaIk.
"It’s nice to have someone to be able to talk to. It’s just a pleasure – it’s like I have a sister back. It’s someone who’s really interested in me, she remembers things about me and brings them up on our calls.
"Silver Talk is there consistently every week at the same time. Even when my volunteer was ill, they arranged for someone else to call me which was really lovely. They’re all really nice."
Anne has volunteered with Silver Talk for four years. She sees the people she talks to as friends rather than service users:
"It was especially important during the lockdowns when people were so isolated. I would be the only contact they have.
"I look forward to talking to them – I watch the clock waiting for the call. It cheers me up if I’m down. They say, “You make my day.” Some of them are sitting on the phone waiting for me to call – they answer straight away.
"I speak to 13 people in total. When you’re doing it you get so involved with them, you become part of their family. I’m a daughter, I’m a sister."
Michael, a 62 year old customer from Prudhoe is full of praise for the service:
"The person who calls me, is a lovely lady. She's like a second mum. She’s a saint.
"I started using it March 2020 during the first lockdown.
"I’ve been registered blind and had hit rock bottom at the time. The Miners Lamp, a community hub in Prudhoe, got in touch to help me. They were the ones who introduced me to Silver Talk
"It really cheered me up. It helped me during lockdown.
"I would really recommend the service, especially for people who are on their own and want to get to know people."
Volunteer, Ann feels that being both a good talker and a listener has made her a good volunteer:
"As someone who is on their own as well, it’s nice to have someone to have a regular chat with. It’s really good for people who are on their own, like me and like to talk to others.
"It’s nice to get to know to different people. Some are easy to talk to and some take a little longer to open up, but they are all really nice. You just need to listen, show empathy and give support when needed."
How to get involved with Silver Talk
If you can spare an hour or two each week and enjoy listening, chatting and getting to know people, volunteering with Silver Talk is the perfect way to give something back. You can do it from your home and Karbon can provide volunteers with a smartphone to make the calls. Find out more on our Silver Talk volunteering page.
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from speaking to a Silver Talk volunteer or would like you volunteer, please contact us by calling 0191 223 8662 or email silvertalk@karbonhomes.co.uk.
More news
First phase of affordable homes at Seaham Garden Village gets underway
At Home with Karbon summer edition has landed
Hello! A very warm welcome to the summer edition of At home with Karbon, where you’ll find engaging stories and helpful information.