Gareth @Saltbox

We’re very proud to see our CareLink service represented in FaithAction’s Faith & Health Awards 2018. Our elderly befriending service, which has spent the past ten years tackling loneliness and isolation across Stoke-on-Trent, was one of two charities featured in the ‘Highly Commended’ section of the awards.

FaithAction aims to shine a light on the best work undertaken by UK faith groups, in particular where faith-based organisations strive to keep individuals in good health while taking pressure off the NHS.

The overall 2018 winner was Hear Here! – Hearing Champions, a partnership between four hospital audiology departments and churches in Surrey and NE Hampshire. Local NHS staff work and train church volunteers to understand hearing impairment and basic hearing aid maintenance, allowing them to offer drop-in clinics in their local communities.

The 2018 Runners-up consisted of  NOAH Welfare Centre, a Luton-based drop-in service for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed, and Purple Room Cafe – The Fed, who provide social care and support to the Manchester Jewish Community through a range of services and initiatives.

Our very own CareLink was next up, featuring in the Highly Commended category alongside The Dairy House Elim Connect Centre, a hostel for rough sleepers in the Mendip area.

Saltbox would like to say a big well done to all organisations involved and thank them for their work in supporting the NHS and improving health and wellbeing across UK communities.

You can read a full write up on the awards over on FaithAction’s official website: http://www.faithaction.net/go/award/

On Wednesday 13 June 2018, we held our CareLink Charity Evening at the Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre. The evening consisted of a production of the play, ‘Nell Gwynn’, and a charity prize raffle. The event was a fantastic success and raised £316 towards our CareLink service.

We’d like to say thank you to the Rep Theatre for hosting us and also donating £5 from every ticket sold to our cause. Also, a huge thank you to all who donated prizes towards our raffle.

To us, £316 means that we can fund 2870 calls to find out how our elderly clients are faring, taking an interest in their welfare, helping them with day-to-day concerns or health issues, and especially lifting them out of chronic loneliness and depression.

A full photo gallery of the evening can be found over on our Facebook page.

Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) is a chance to say thank you for the fantastic contribution that individuals make to charitable organisations across the UK. Here at Saltbox, our volunteers give up their own time to help support us across the broad range of services we provide. This week we speak with our CareLink Volunteer Co-ordinator, Zi Makhiwa. Having worked at Saltbox for just over nine years, Zi is responsible for overseeing 30+ volunteers who in turn donate 370 hours a month towards our CareLink befriending service.  

Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you end up working for Saltbox?

Having graduated in Law in 2007, I have had varied roles in my working life. I began as a meat packer then worked as a cashier, replenishing shelves at a supermarket, domiciliary carer then as an admin and care co-ordinator. I’ve also worked in Quality Control, Data Administration and in the mortgage department at a bank.  I came to Saltbox just over nine years ago after having to make a life-changing decision. I was only meant to be covering for a member of staff who was off sick for four weeks but have been here ever since.  My role is CareLink Volunteer Co-ordinator.  I enjoy working with people from all walks of life and enjoy listening to their life stories and what motivates them.

What does your day-to-day role involve?

I’m responsible for scheduling volunteers to ensure that our elderly CareLink clients receive their befriending telephone calls. I also support our volunteers in their roles and occasionally help them in their own lives too. When new volunteers join the team I oversee any recruitment and training requirements. I’m always encouraging them in their day-to-day activities at CareLink. This helps us to maintain an upbeat and exciting environment.  Happiness whilst carrying out your duties does translate over the phone and helps to provide an amazing and supportive befriending service.  Our clients often tell us they can hear a smiling voice over the phone.

What do you look for in a volunteer?

I look for someone who is friendly, caring, good at listening (very important!) and would like to help break up the monotony of the day for an older person who is lonely and isolated. Anyone interested in volunteering can call and speak to me at CareLink on 01782 810320.  Alternatively, they can fill an enquiry form on our website.  Here you will also find more stories from clients who will tell you about what a difference the service has made to them.

Have Saltbox got anything lined up to celebrate Volunteer week?

Oh yes, we do!  This year we decided to break away from the tradition of our usual ‘thank you’ meal. Instead, we’ll be taking our volunteers on a day trip to an amazing location – Carsington Water in Derbyshire.  We felt this would give them the opportunity to go somewhere a little different and also give them time to bond as a team.  They are all really looking forward to spending the day together and having a nice meal at the café there. I’m also looking forward to doing a spot of shopping!  We hope this shows our volunteers how much we appreciate all they do for CareLink. We really would not be able to support our clients as well as we do without our wonderful volunteers.

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for plenty of photos and videos from our volunteer trip to Carsington Water!

Just before Easter our CareLink team leader Linda Stone spoke to BBC Radio Stoke’s Perry Spiller about Saltbox’s CareLink service and also the ‘Help W.A.V.E goodbye to loneliness’ campaign.

The W.A.V.E campaign is one of the actions by the Loneliness Strategy Group aimed at reducing loneliness and isolation across the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The goal of the campaign is to promote the involvement of whole communities in reducing risk factors and raising awareness by delivering the clear message that loneliness can be preventable. W.A.V.E breaks down as follows:

• W – Who around you could be lonely? Keep an eye out for neighbours, friends and family who may be feeling lonely or isolated
• A – Ask “Are you all right?” Take five minutes to chat and listen to them
• V – Visit your local library to find out about activities and services that can help.
• E – Everyone can play a part. Loneliness can significantly harm health, but little things like a friendly smile can make a BIG difference.

Regular updates about the campaign can be found by visiting the Healthy Stoke-on-Trent Facebook page.

BBC Radio Stoke have also been kind enough to provide audio from our interview, now available below via our YouTube channel.

Throughout 2017 we’ve been taking our CareLink clients out on a series of heritage day trips. This week we made the short trek to the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke-on-Trent. Our clients enjoyed some lunch and also spent time learning how to paint their own plates in the decorating studio.

“The purpose of these trips is to give our clients the chance to get out and about” explained CareLink team leader Linda Stone. “A lot of them don’t always get the chance to meet with other people anymore. With us they have the opportunity to come out, socialise and enjoy a good day out”

CareLink client, Joyce, has been with the service for two or three years now. “I enjoy being a part of CareLink” she tells us. “We always have a good chat. I look forward to it. Otherwise, I might not see a soul all day.”

To hear more from our clients, staff and volunteers, we’ve put together a short video of the day, available below