‘We talk about everything, and the time just flies by.’ a Befriending service user

Befriending is a free service on which we match up housebound and isolated older people with trained volunteers who visit them for an hour or two a week to play games, have a chat, or simply to have a cup of tea.

Who can use the Befriending service?

• Older people aged 60 and over

• Those who have little or no contact with others

• Those who don’t often leave their homes

• The ill or disabled

• Those with non-acute mental health needs

‘The Phone Link has given me something special to look forward to during the day.’

‘It is a lifeline. I don’t know what I would do without it – be very, very lonely, I suppose.’ comments from Phone Link users

The Phone Link is a free telephone service staffed by trained volunteers who phone up older people once, twice or three times a week, Monday to Friday, from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm. The scheme provides lonely, frail and housebound older people with a friendly link in the world.

Who can use the Phone Link?

• Older people aged 60 and over

• Those who have little or no contact with others

• Those who don’t often leave their homes

• The ill or disabled

• Those with non-acute mental health needs

We are always looking for caring people to phone older people from our offices in Abingdon and Banbury. We provide full training and reimburse out-of-pocket expenses. If you can give just two consecutive hours of your time, you can make a real difference to the lives of older people in Oxfordshire.

Manager: Alex Ivey. Contact: 01235 849400

Age Concern Oxfordshire manages five day centres and two lunch clubs in Oxford. Each one is situated in a different area of the city enabling us to reach as many older people as possible without causing them to spend an excessive amount of time travelling. There is, out of necessity, a catchment area for all day centres, although if a person decided upon a particular day centre and was able to get themselves there, then they would be considered to go to the one of their choice.

In addition to the city day centres we also have centres in Faringdon, Nettlebed, and the Kidlington area and lunch clubs in Burford, Chilton and Goring.

All day centres are staffed by an organiser and deputy and supported by volunteers. Our centres are primarily social and the clients generally need to be able to walk on their own, with limited assistance from others. Transport is provided for the day centre. A hot two-course meal is provided daily with the provision for those who have special dietary requirements, and refreshments are available throughout the day.

Day Centres

Lunch Club

Additional information about other day care centres (Social & Community Services and Independent providers) may be found on www.oxfordshire.gov.uk website
Day centres encourage creative activities for all, invite guest speakers and entertainers, and arrange outings on a regular basis.
Manager: Lester Lee. Contact: 01235 849400

It is not a medical service but a common sense approach to basic footcare.  Volunteers visit older people in their own homes or in easily accessible community locations, where they spend time with each client chatting while they bathe their feet, trim their toenails and finish with a relaxing gentle foot massage.

We offer this service in older people's homes, day centres and at special footcare sessions in community venues.  Regular treatments are given every 6 to 8 weeks, dependent on individual need.

This service is for older people who are unable to cut their own nails through reasons of frailty and difficulty bending, poor eyesight or problems with dexterity.  There is a fee of £7 per treatment

For more information please contact Sole Mates on 01865 717615 or email solemates@ageconcernoxon.org.uk