How can my church adopt a local care home?
There are about 17,500 care homes in the UK and over 50,000 churches. If each church adopted a local care home, offering trained volunteers to spend time and build friendships with care home residents, we could make a huge difference to some of the most oldest and frailest people in the UK.
However, we recognise that every church is different, with varying degrees of capacity for new initiatives, so we don't want to be too prescriptive about how a project is set up. Our heart is to serve churches in their mission to reach out to care home residents in their communities.
In the video below our Director, Tina English, talks about how churches can get involved in coming alongside care home residents in their local community.
However, we recognise that every church is different, with varying degrees of capacity for new initiatives, so we don't want to be too prescriptive about how a project is set up. Our heart is to serve churches in their mission to reach out to care home residents in their communities.
In the video below our Director, Tina English, talks about how churches can get involved in coming alongside care home residents in their local community.
We have identified three pathways for churches to get involved in Care Home Friends, but we are open to chat about other models that would work better in your local situation:
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Individual Volunteering
Do you have a heart to befriend a local care home resident as a volunteer, but don't know where to start? You may not feel that your church is in a place to start a Care Home Friends project, but you would still like to individually come alongside a care home resident in friendship and support.
Get in touch and we can give you some advice and support in contacting your local care homes and exploring opportunities to do this.
We won't be able to supervise your volunteering or do your DBS check; that would be the responsibility of the care home where you volunteer. But you can access our online training to help you feel prepared and confident in your volunteering. We also have a facebook group you can join to connect with likeminded individuals.
Get in touch and we can give you some advice and support in contacting your local care homes and exploring opportunities to do this.
We won't be able to supervise your volunteering or do your DBS check; that would be the responsibility of the care home where you volunteer. But you can access our online training to help you feel prepared and confident in your volunteering. We also have a facebook group you can join to connect with likeminded individuals.
Adopt a local care home as a church or small group
What does this involve?
This involves gathering a small group of volunteers who will befriend care home residents, visiting regularly to offer companionship. The volunteers don't have to be available at the same time each week to visit together - they go in individually at a time convenient to them and the care home. Befriending could involve simply chatting, or it might be playing a game, going for a walk, doing a jigsaw or puzzle with a resident - anything that a resident would enjoy, and that builds relationship.
What will you need?
You'll need a volunteer Champion, who can recruit, vet and support volunteers, and liaise with the care home. You'll need the backing of your church leadership and it's also really worthwhile having a prayer support team.
How can we help?
What is the cost?
If churches can afford it, we ask for a one off donation of £250. However, we want to be generously openhanded with our resources and will freely give our support to churches unable to make this donation.
Churches will also need to sign up to our simple Care Home Friends Charter, so that we can protect the name and reputation of Care Home Friends.
This involves gathering a small group of volunteers who will befriend care home residents, visiting regularly to offer companionship. The volunteers don't have to be available at the same time each week to visit together - they go in individually at a time convenient to them and the care home. Befriending could involve simply chatting, or it might be playing a game, going for a walk, doing a jigsaw or puzzle with a resident - anything that a resident would enjoy, and that builds relationship.
What will you need?
You'll need a volunteer Champion, who can recruit, vet and support volunteers, and liaise with the care home. You'll need the backing of your church leadership and it's also really worthwhile having a prayer support team.
How can we help?
- We can offer training and ongoing support for your Champion
- Online resources for setting up a Care Home Friends project
- Training for your volunteers - either over Zoom or in person, or online
- A facebook group for Champions to connect with other Champions
- You become part of a network of Care Home Friend projects across the UK, sharing ideas, stories and inspiration
What is the cost?
If churches can afford it, we ask for a one off donation of £250. However, we want to be generously openhanded with our resources and will freely give our support to churches unable to make this donation.
Churches will also need to sign up to our simple Care Home Friends Charter, so that we can protect the name and reputation of Care Home Friends.
Start a larger, area-wide Care Home Friends project
What does this involve?
Perhaps you are a larger church with a vision for a wider area, or you are part of a Churches Together group looking to work together to reach out to local care homes. Our larger projects adopt all the care homes in a specified area, with a paid part time co-ordinator who mobilises volunteers, liaises with care homes and fosters community engagement. The co-ordinator can either be employed and supervised by Embracing Age, or by the group setting up the project.
What will you need?
How can we help?
Perhaps you are a larger church with a vision for a wider area, or you are part of a Churches Together group looking to work together to reach out to local care homes. Our larger projects adopt all the care homes in a specified area, with a paid part time co-ordinator who mobilises volunteers, liaises with care homes and fosters community engagement. The co-ordinator can either be employed and supervised by Embracing Age, or by the group setting up the project.
What will you need?
- Funding to pay for the co-ordinator - probably about £10,000 per year
- A motivated co-ordinator with enthusiasm, initiative and drive
- A prayer support team
- A local advisory team
How can we help?
- We can help to secure funding
- Employment and supervision of the co-ordinator, who would be part of our staff team (if not doing this yourselves)
- Training of volunteers - in person, over Zoom, or online
- Online project resources
Frequently asked questionsWhat types of churches are running a Care Home Friends project?
Churches from different denominations are taking part in Care Home Friends.
What if we're already running a service in a Care Home?
You've probably already seen that there's a huge need for social interaction and may want to take your existing project a step further and make a greater impact. People in care homes often need social interaction and enjoy spending time with people from the 'outside world', as they see it. If you're already visiting a Care Home, it's much easier to start a Care Home Friends project as you've already got the connection.
In terms of team, it may be that some of your existing team would love to get involved making one-to-one visits with residents. Or you may have people in your church who aren't already part of the team for whatever reason, who can see how they could get involved, fitting in their visit around their own busy schedule.
How many volunteers do I need?
You can start with just 2 or 3 volunteers and build up from there.
Churches from different denominations are taking part in Care Home Friends.
What if we're already running a service in a Care Home?
You've probably already seen that there's a huge need for social interaction and may want to take your existing project a step further and make a greater impact. People in care homes often need social interaction and enjoy spending time with people from the 'outside world', as they see it. If you're already visiting a Care Home, it's much easier to start a Care Home Friends project as you've already got the connection.
In terms of team, it may be that some of your existing team would love to get involved making one-to-one visits with residents. Or you may have people in your church who aren't already part of the team for whatever reason, who can see how they could get involved, fitting in their visit around their own busy schedule.
How many volunteers do I need?
You can start with just 2 or 3 volunteers and build up from there.
What's Next? |
Want to keep up to date? |
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If this sounds like an opportunity that you'd like to explore, the next step is to get in touch with Tina, our Director, who is happy to answer any of your questions, on a no commitment basis.
Simply send us a message using this contact form or phoning 0203 7780035 (choose option 1 to speak to Tina) and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. |
If you would like to hear what Care Home Friends is up to, or how you can support our work with your prayers, please complete our newsletter sign-up form. Thank you.
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