Care Home Friends started as a local project in the London Borough of Richmond in 2015 and has grown from there. 
We mobilise trained and vetted volunteers to go in to care homes and spend time with individual residents, doing activities that the resident enjoys and that build companionship.

Before Covid-19 we had about 60 volunteers in all the care homes across the London Borough of Richmond and were startin projects on the Isle of Wight and in other places in the UK. At the moment our volunteer visits are limited, but we've been trying to support care homes in other ways, until restrictions are lifted.

"Violet was one of the first residents that I met in a care home.

​She's a very frail, unassuming lady in her 80's, and she loves nature. The care home where she lives overlooks a beautiful park and she would often see people walking outside in the park.

She said to me, 'The one thing I would love to do, more than anything is to be able to go to the park myself.'

We trained a volunteer up to take her out in a wheelchair. I was there the first time we took her and I could see the wonder and joy on her face at being close to nature again."

Tina English, Director

Following the success we experienced in the Borough of Richmond, we saw the potential to develop a national network. Knowing that there are about 17,500 care homes across the UK and over 50,000 churches our vision was for each care home to be adopted by a local church, with trained volunteers befriending residents.

We're also aware that in some places there are as many care homes as there are churches. We are beginning to start larger, regional projects, like our original project in Richmond, and had just started one on the Isle of Wight when the pandemic struck. We have a co-ordinator on the Isle of Wight looking at other ways to support care home residents and staff.

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 on getting it right.

​​Care Home Manager

Over the next 3 years we aim to start 30 projects across the UK, working with local churches to train up volunteers to go into Care Homes.

All our volunteers receive training, which includes issues such as:

• active listening
• boundaries & confidentiality
• dementia & communication challenges 
• safeguarding

I am so glad we have Care Home Friends in our area as they provide much needed support to residents who have no families.

​​Care Home Manager

We offer training and ongoing to support for churches, to ensure that:

• the church takes up 2 references for each volunteers, as part of the safeguarding process
• all volunteers are DBS checked, prior to visiting a care home resident. This can be done either by the care home, or the church, following discussions with the Care Home Manager
• there is an appropriate induction process for volunteers who come in to your Care Home
• there is always someone they, or their volunteers, can contact at Care Home Friends

We believe that our volunteers will be an asset to your Care Home and make a positive difference to some of your residents.

I have been inspired to hear of the work of Care Home Friends. It is a simple but brilliant idea to connect churches with Care Homes.

Elderly people have so much to give, and such links promise to bring real benefit to those who visit, elderly people who often value more human contact, and the churches themselves, as a way of demonstrating the love of Christ for people whatever their age. 
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​The Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington
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If you have any further questions about Care Home Friends, our projects or our training, please feel to get in touch with us through the Contact Us page.