Ferndown buddies help build confidence under new ‘connectors' scheme

Headed by the community outreach programme, PramaLIFE, the new ‘connectors’ scheme aims to help those in the town who have lost confidence.

Connectors will buddy-up with people who need company to visit new groups or societies, or help them with simple tasks.

Community development worker for isolation and loneliness at Dorset County Council, Lynn Kenchington, is backing the scheme.

She said, “All our volunteers will be trained and then they will be partnered with people in the community who they can help.

“Often it is very simple things, like just going for a coffee with someone or walking the dog with them.

“People can become lonely and anxious about doing things and they just need a bit of help to get their confidence.

“If someone has been bereaved or suddenly is unable to drive they might need a bit of help to start new things or even to catch the bus.

“It is not a long-term scheme, but merely helps people gain enough confidence for them to join a group or start doing something they’ve never done before or have got out of the habit of doing.”

Emma Regan from Douch Family Funeral Directors, which runs the Jolliffe branch in Ferndown, is on the working group. She said, “Of course we deal with the bereaved on a daily basis and this scheme will make a lot of difference. So often we want to be able to help people more after dealing with a funeral and this will allow that to happen.

“Spending a bit of time with someone in order to hold their hand and improve their confidence is extremely simple but can change someone’s life.”

The steering committee organising the connectors is headed by PramaLife and includes AE Jolliffe and Son funeral directors, St Mary’s Church, counsellor Cindy Weller, Corbin Avenue Doctors’ Surgery, Penny’s Hill Practice, Early Help Care POPP/Help and Care, Adult and Communities DCC.