Industry charity the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) has announced its new ‘Check in and Chat’ service, after a successful pilot. The service, launching during National Befriending Week, offers retired railway employees a weekly chat with a volunteer to alleviate potential loneliness and aid wellbeing.
The charity’s research with railway pensioners has highlighted that retirement can often be isolating, especially with many community and railway groups closing following the pandemic. New analysis of Office for National Statistics data shows that the number of people who are chronically lonely has risen to 3.83 million; half a million more than in the first year of the pandemic.1 Furthermore, Christmas is a time of year where isolation can feel particularly pertinent. Statistics from Age UK show that almost 1.7 million older people feel more lonely at Christmas than any other time of year.2
During the pilot of the Check in and Chat service, 30 hours of telephone friendship calls have already been made to several retired people, who were identified as missing out on regular conversations. Bill, a retired signaller, has been having weekly calls with a volunteer for 3 months. He said:
“I’m finding it really helpful. I sometimes go a long time without anyone to talk to and it’s very hard. I’m 94 and meeting new people is difficult, so check in and chat in my own home with a lovely lady to talk to is fantastic. I still manage to get to town to run my errands, although at my age I don’t run! But the casual conversations I have with shop keepers are nothing like the calls, which are much more personal and involved.”
The charity is now looking for more volunteers to get involved with this service. No experience is necessary; volunteers simply need to be current railway employees, be good listeners and enjoy a friendly conversation. Volunteers can be based anywhere in the country and the cost of the calls will be reimbursed.
Louise, a Check in and Chat volunteer, said:
“I was keen to be able to give back to the rail community and saw the check in and chat scheme as an ideal way to do that. We talk very openly, and I feel that the fact we have never met or seen each other allows him to be very honest, sharing his worries without the feeling of being judged. I feel like the wellbeing of my befriendee has improved, I often set him small tasks such as going to the market or hairdressers, then we talk about these outings in our next call. He really enjoys talking about the day-to-day aspects of his life, small things that have happened that he perhaps feels would be too small to mention to his family in the limited time they have together.”
To find out more about volunteering for the Check in and Chat service, visit the RBF website: www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/volunteer/check-in-and-chat-volunteer
To refer yourself or someone you know for the service, call 03452 412 885 or visit the RBF website: www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/support-services/check-in-and-chat
Photo credit: RBF
