A NEW project has been launched by a Barrhead-based charity in a bid to tackle isolation and loneliness.
Include Me 2 Club, which supports children, young people and adults with additional support needs and disabilities, started the Buddy Up initiative in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown restrictions it brought with it.
The project offers a free telephone friendship service to people in Barrhead and elsewhere in East Renfrewshire, so those who are on their own or are lonely can enjoy a chat with someone.
Daryl Campbell, who is Include Me 2 Club’s project development worker and is leading the initiative, told the Barrhead News: “During the current lockdown, many of us may find that we are spending more time on our own.
“This can sometimes make us feel lonely. It can be boring or make us miss our friends and family.
“We want to help those who are missing out on the simple joy of regular conversation and by supporting those who are feeling alone, especially during the times we are living in, it can instantly lift their mood.
“Current restriction measures mean social distancing is still being enforced, so the problem of loneliness has worsened dramatically for people of all ages. It is, therefore, crucial to look after everyone in society.
“With this in mind, we are offering a free telephone friendship service and we are excited about the opportunity to use the Volunteero app, which will help further develop our Buddy Up programme and help to support the most vulnerable residents in East Renfrewshire.
“We match each person with one of our volunteers for a weekly chat and we hope that, through this, our service will create hundreds of new friendships.
“For many people, this could be the highlight of their week.”
The Buddy Up programme wasn’t due to be launched until the new year but the charity brought that forward due to the “urgent” need to tackle isolation.
Daryl added: “With East Renfrewshire being in tier four restrictions, we wanted to adapt and develop the support very quickly, to get to those in need.”
For more information, contact the Buddy Up team by sending an email to projects@includeme2club.org.uk or by calling 0740 718 7205.
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