Friendship at home

Friendship at home is a CIO (Community interest organisation) started in 2006. The aim of the organisation is to help combat isolation and loneliness across North East Lincolnshire. This fitted in well with our Community champions quarter back in Winter 2017/2018 Social inclusion. Community champions raised £11,865.64 for friendship at home.

Lyse Stevenson operational manager there said “It was extra special knowing the funds had been raised for local people by local people.

The funding made a huge difference to so many older people as it gave them activities to get up in the morning for. The lasting legacy is that we now support over 900 older people with activities”

The funding enabled them to set up activities from Bingo, drop in coffee mornings, chair exercise classes, social clubs and many more. The charity and its volunteers also support in many other ways from Hospital discharge support, memory loss support, wellbeing checks they are also part of the Later Life partnership NEL.

Their current challenge is to help with financial checks to make sure that the over 60’s are getting the right financial support and benefits that they are entitled to. Last year through their checks they found £750,000 worth of benefits that are now being received to those who are eligible in North East Lincs.