Could you become a Silver Line 'Friend'?
Silver Line – the free, confidential 24/7 helpline for older people – is getting set for its phones to be buzzing over the New Year period.
The helpline operates around-the-clock, 365-days-a-year to provide information and support and already receives 1,300 calls a day from lonely older people.
Founded by Dame Esther Rantzen, it offers friendship and advice, and signposts callers to other resources in their community.
Based on the experience of previous festive seasons, The Silver Line expects to handle more than twice the number of calls over the days around Christmas and New Year than on average days for the rest of the year.
The Silver Line Helpline received over 860 calls in the month of November 2015 from people in the Plymouth area, compared to just over 500 calls received from people in the area in November 2014.
Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, Founder of The Silver Line said: “Like many of our Silver Line callers, I know what loneliness feels like - and Christmas is especially difficult if you are on your own. When my late husband Desmond Wilcox died, I tried to make our family Christmas as joyous as it had always been, but it was impossible.
“In the words of one of our callers, Christmas Day became ‘just another day I had to get through’. We can make this Christmas happier and the start of a much happier New Year.”
Sophie Andrews, CEO of The Silver Line, said: “Since our launch two years ago, our 24/7 year-round helpline has received over 680,000 calls, and this is growing exponentially. We have just had our busiest day with over 1,500 calls in one day.
“Over the days around Christmas last year, we handled more than twice the number of calls than on the average day and we expect that could grow even higher this year.
“On Christmas Day, many older people received a call from their Silver Line Friend and for the vast majority that was the only person they spoke to that day
“But we also know there are thousands, even millions more that we didn't reach.
“That’s why we are asking more people both in the City of Plymouth itself and across Devon to help and volunteer their time – either as a ‘Silver Line Friend’ to chat with an isolated older person, or to support our work through donations or festive fund raising, or spread the word so more people hear about our helpline.”
Running the helpline, training and the cost of all calls are paid for by donations. For example £5 covers the cost of each call that The Silver Line receives, and £50 can recruit and train a volunteer.
As well as Silver Line Friends, volunteers who carry out regular Friendship Calls to isolated older people, and our ‘Keeping in Touch’ calls, Silver Line also offer:
• Silver Letters: an exchange of regular letters and correspondence between an older person and a volunteer Silver Line Friend;
• Silver Circles: a regular group call on a range of subjects that interest the callers; and
• Silver Line Forums, for those who want to connect online with others who have similar experiences.
The Silver Line Helpline is 0800 4 70 80 90
Website: www.thesilverline.org.uk
