A new charity, ‘GrandFriends: The Company of Elders’ has been set-up in Bath to bring together local elders and younger people who may not otherwise have the chance to spend time in each other’s company.
“The ethos behind the charity is that many older people are under-used community assets who are needed now more than ever,” commented Grandfriends director and founder Lavinia Thomas Buhagiar. “GrandFriends intends to rebuild the role of elders as integral and cherished members of neighbourhoods, as was traditional in the past.”
The charity trains and supports GrandFriend volunteers to give their company to younger people as part of three new programmes, the first being weekly Lunch Time Visits to St John’s Catholic Primary School in Oldfield Park, Bath, which has been a great success. The volunteers have the time to play, chat and listen to pupils at lunch and in the playground, with their patience, perspective and experience making for 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,” added Lavinia. “We hope to address intergenerational loneliness by rebuilding social connections to benefit everyone who takes part in our programmes.”
The charity was conceived in response to Lavinia’s concern that her own children rarely spent time with people of the grandparent generation because of distance to extended family combined with a lack of regular local events to bring people of all ages together. What’s more, there are older people who may not have a chance to see family members and other younger people as often as they might like.
“As a nation we are living for longer but for many retirement comes with the risk of loneliness which can cause serious damage to mental and physical health,” said Lavinia. “According to Age UK, half a million older people go at least five days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all, while just 17% of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11% are in contact less than once a month.”
Meanwhile, as Lavinia points out, primary schools are struggling with a lack of resources, and many families are unable to access pastoral support.
The charity launched in September 2022, since when more than 20 volunteers have signed up, aged from 60 to 80 plus, of whom many have completed training and have been active in the programme at St John’s Catholic Primary School.
Angela Bennet, co-head of St John’s, said, “Friday lunchtime used to be a pinch-point but now it is the calmest day of the week and everybody looks forward to The GrandFriends coming in to visit.”
For many children, the GrandFriends are the only elders they see on a regular basis, and as one mother said, for her child the visits are ‘heaven sent’. As for the GrandFriends themselves, the experience of volunteering has been a boost, and a reminder of the value of elders and how rewarding it is to be needed.
The charity is building on a great start by recruiting more volunteers and staff, and will be trialling two new programmes: the GrandFriends After School Club for children aged between 8 – 11 from all local primary schools, and The GrandFriends Sunday Social, a big lunch for people of all younger ages to come and enjoy the company of elders.
If you or someone you know may be interested in volunteering, get in touch to find out more by phoning Lavinia on 07713 400071 or email email hidden; JavaScript is required There is no minimum time commitment, while references and background checks are administered by the charity, and training is provided.
The charity is also recruiting for an additional member of staff to work with the Director to support the volunteers. For a job description and application form please email email hidden; JavaScript is required