Our Vision

There are about 17,500 care homes across the UK and over 50,000 churches. We want to see every care home adopted by a local church,  with each church co-ordinating a Care Home Friends project, so that we can raise up an army of trained volunteers to befriend and support care home residents, many of whom can feel overlooked and ignored.

Research suggests that care home residents have as little as 2 minutes social interaction each day. All it needs is one person in each church with a heart for older people who can recruit and co-ordinate two or three volunteers.  Together we can make an enormous difference in the lives of some of the oldest and frailest members of our community.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Having a volunteer has "tranformed my life!"

Our trained volunteers offer friendship and support to elderly residents in care homes. Research suggests that older people in care homes are twice as likely to feel lonely as older people living in the community.  

Support includes befriending, simply chatting, reading aloud, or doing a crossword with a resident who has visual impairment, helping residents with IT skills, playing a board game, doing gardening with a resident or taking them out for a walk. The list is endless, as each resident will have different interests.
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​For residents with advanced dementia we try to provide meaningful sensory enjoyment based on the life story of the individual. E.g. Music they enjoy, nostalgic smells, pictures, etc. 

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US

A 90 year old resident:
“We talk about things that we wouldn’t talk about in here. I feel like I am out in the normal world talking to a normal person. It’s normal and it’s lovely! I look forward to his visits all week”.

​A Care Home Manager:
“I cannot speak highly enough about your service. The quality of people your organisation sends to me is excellent, and I think what is really important is they really want to be here.
It’s not a, “well I’m just doing my bit”, it’s “I am here because I want to be and enjoy what I am doing and I think I make a difference” which in my view and the view of my senior staff,
they do. Congratulations in getting it right!”

A Volunteer:
"Volunteering has certainly increased my sense of purpose in life but not only that I genuinely enjoy befriending people and the visits and conversations that I have!"

Matt Bird, Founder of the Cinnamon Network
"The way Care Home Friends helps local churches adopt residential care homes to befriend elderly people, particularly those who experience loneliness, is brilliant and beautiful!"

Are you interested in making a difference?
​Could your church start a Care Home Friends project?​​

We'll give you all the help and support you need.
Contact us for more information.