Councillor’s support for befriending service

Coun John Wilmott, an Ashfield District and Nottinghamshire County councillor, visited Jigsaw Support Scheme recently to find out more about the charity’s befriending service.

Based in Mansfield, the charity supports people in Mansfield and Ashfield to live independently in their own homes and provides services that help to stop these people from becoming lonely.

This is through weekly home visiting services to over 60s, offering companionship to housebound and elderly people who have no one to visit them and are desperate for someone to talk to.

Befriending co-ordinator Cate Bones said: “For our volunteers it’s a really rewarding role and for our service users it is the only meaningful conversation in their entire week, so our befriending project is a vital service to our community’s most vulnerable.”

Jigsaw also runs friendship groups where older people can meet for lunch, make friends, build social networks and enjoy life more.

Fundraiser Ginny Cullen said: “We’d love to have more friendship groups in order to reach more older people who need support to get out and enjoy life. Transport is a huge barrier and we are stepping up our fundraising so we can lay on a mini bus to pick up older people so they can attend our weekly meetings more easily.”

If you would like to volunteer, attend, or have a volunteer to visit you at home for an hour a week, contact Cate Bones on Mansfield 662200.