Good news for A Call in Time

We're delighted to say that A Call in Time has just been awarded the Approved Provider Standard by The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, the national body for mentoring and befriending. 

Set up in 2005 and run by the Zurich Community Trust in partnership with Age UK, A Call in Time matches employee volunteers with older people in our communities who are isolated and vulnerable.  The commitment required is for the volunteer to make a friendly, reassuring phone call to the older person, once a week. 

The accreditation awarded is the result of a year long external validation involving in-depth consultation with programme managers from both Zurich Community Trust and Age UK, telephone volunteers from Zurich, Prudential and Wilkinsons and with the older people themselves.

The report looked at all the programme's processes and procedures, including the training provided, risk management and the support given to volunteers.

"May I take this opportunity on behalf of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation to thank your organisation for its highly valued commitment to quality and to wish you further success in the development of your programme." Rosy Dick, Quality Standard Co-ordinator, Mentoring and Befriending Foundation

The assessors were very complimentary about the programme and the role of our telephone befrienders.  Some comments were: 

• "The service is integrated into the overall services provided by Age UK."
• "There is evidence that safeguarding is taken seriously, with robust policies and procedures in place and risk assessments undertaken on both sides."
• "There is a clear and consistent process in place for the matching of service users to mentor/befrienders"
• "Feedback from the volunteer befrienders demonstrated they were satisfied with the support they received.  The participating volunteers felt that the support provided was appropriate and proportionate to the role."

"Achieving external accreditation for A Call in Time is important as it provides very clear reassurance to our clients and volunteers that we provide a quality service.  It's also important for us, as a team, as it ratifies our good practice." Jan Williams, National Programme and Development Manager, Call in Time, Age UK.

One of the older members supported by A Call in Time valued the 'continuity of a relationship with someone I can trust' while another said the programme gave them a 'charming friend on the same wavelength to chat and gossip with.'

"To receive this accreditation is a huge accolade. A huge 'thank you' to all of our wonderful Call in Time volunteers, old and new, who prove without doubt how a weekly phone call can help to change an older person's life for the better.  So if you know an older person who would benefit from the programme please send me an email." Jane Boulton, Zurich Community Trust