As we get older, our social circles diminish, and we find ourselves with fewer and fewer people to turn to. Imagine realising one day that all your friends and family have gone from your life ...
Tea Party Driver
Contact person
Stacey Pointon
#111903
Scan me or visit www.getinvolvedcoventry.org.uk/o/ReEngage/activities/Tea-Party-Driver/111903 to join
Summary
Help tackle loneliness and social isolation among older people.
Detailed description
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 coordinator 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 coordinator to confirm which older guests you will pick up.
- Informing the group coordinator 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.
About Re-engage
As we get older, our social circles diminish, and we find ourselves with fewer and fewer people to turn to. Imagine realising one day that all your friends and family have gone from your life. Loneliness can be cruel, and it affects millions of people over 75 who live in social isolation.
Re-engage is making life less lonely for thousands of older people every year. Older people tell us that our volunteer-led activities make them happier and more able to trust others.
Our tea parties are monthly social groups open to people aged 75 and over, and give older people regular afternoons of conversation and laughter with friends of all ages.
"Something to look forward to each month"
Call companions is our telephone befriending service ensuring older people stay connected to the outside world. Call companions is available to anyone aged 75 and over who’s socially isolated and would like a regular chat over the phone with a friendly volunteer.
”Before this, I used to feel so lonely”
Our activity groups give people 75 and over the chance to do gentle exercise as they make connections with other people. Our activity groups in Birmingham, Bristol and the South West, London, Manchester, the Scottish Borders, Wales, and West Yorkshire, take place both face to face and online.
"Friendly, kind, helpful, happy people to mix with"
The period around Christmas can be difficult for anyone on their own. During December, our Christmas call companions service offers lonely or isolated older people a weekly chat over the telephone with a friendly volunteer.
All our services are free to older people.