Over a quarter of the Island's residents are over 65, and this is set to increase. Not surprisingly, admissions to care homes on the Isle of Wight are significantly higher than the England average. Research shows that older people in care homes are twice as likely to feel severely lonely as older people living at home.

That's why we are raising up an army of volunteers to spend time and build friendship with residents across the Island. We know that volunteers make a huge difference in the lives of the people they visit. Volunteers usually spend an hour a week visiting residents and do a range of activities with them, from simply chatting, to helping with IT skills, to playing games, reading aloud, accompanying a resident on a walk - the list is endless!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED  ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Want to know more about befriending care home residents ​on the Isle of Wight? 

Rebecca Savage

Isle of Wight Co-ordinator

Volunteers have been making a huge difference to care home residents across the Island during the pandemic

Cards of Kindness

Our volunteers are sending colourful, interesting cards to care home residents, particularly those without family or friends, to brighten up their days during lockdown and let them know that they are not forgotten. 

Here are some of the colourful creations being sent to residents.
"Something so simple and thoughtful as a card brings smiles in abundance. One of our residents had just returned from a stay in hospital and it was a real pleasure to see her reaction - perfect timing!"
​
- A care home member of staff -

Flower Bouquet Blessing

​Rebecca, our co-ordinator on the Isle of Wight, started this project in Spring 2020, with a team of volunteers interested in floristry. The idea is to bless care home residents and staff with bouquets of flowers, bringing sunshine and joy during the pandemic. They have been creating these lovely arrangements and delivering them to care homes across the Isle of WIght.
"​You may not know the difference a bouquet makes to those living with dementia.
The presence of plants and flowers can have a healing effect, stimulate reminiscing,
​provide peace and quiet to help ease stress, aniexty, agitation and pain."
​
- A member of the care home staff - 

Sensory Knitted Aquariums

We are creating sensory knitted aquariums for care homes residents across the Island,  to bring a smile to their faces and let them know that their local community is thinking of them, even when we can't visit.

Wight Mask Ask - Vital PPE for care staff

Since the height of the pandemic we have been distributing PPE across the Isle of Wight, to help protect care staff and shield the most vulnerable.  We have given out over 70,000 items of PPE including masks, gloves, aprons, shoe protectors and hand gel, to 68 care organisations across the Island, as well as to individual carers.

​We couldn't have done this without the generosity of many people and organisations including Wight Aid,  HIWCF, Hovertravel, Southern Electric, Mailforce. We are also very grateful to the four distribution hubs across the Island, supported by Island volunteers: the West Wight Community Centre, Community Action at the Riverside Centre, Medina Bookshop in Cowes and our Care Home Friends Champion, Barbara Sargent in Ryde.
​‘I rang in the morning as we had no gloves, or aprons and Mum has double incontinence. I was at my wits end. by lunchtime I was picking up supplies, I cried with relief and cannot thank you enough’

- A carer looking after her mum -

Christmas Gift Bags
The Isle of Wight community, with support from the Mary Pittis Trust, Tesco, Boots and True Vine Church, helped us to give presents to 164 residents who had no friends or family.  Through the generous donations of gifts, home made crafts and funding we were able to give and purchase beautiful gifts and personalise them .