Our ethos is that the company of elders is a precious but often under-used resource.  We know that the pastoral value inherent in spending time with older people is needed by many children and young people, and intend rebuild the role of our elders as integral and cherished members of our communities.

 

The charity trains and supports ‘GrandFriend’ volunteers to give their company to younger people as part of innovative new programmes, including lunch time visits, a gardening club and library sessions at a local primary school in Oldfield Park.  The GrandFriends volunteers have have the time to play, chat and listen to the pupils.  Each volunteer is given training and support in safeguarding, child protection and more, and this combined with the perspective and experience which comes with age makes the GrandFriends excellent company.

GrandFriends has been devised as a joined-up response to a set of problems which are contributing to a disconnect between elders and younger people which we are describing as 'intergenerational loneliness'.  By giving the GrandFriend volunteers the agency to address this we hope that they themselves benefit from increased feelings of value, purpose and respect.

To find out more, call 07713 400071 or email lavinia@grandfriends.uk