It was great to drop by Holy Trinity Church in Claygate today to chat to Pippa Cramer and Mary Miller. Pippa, the church’s Pastoral Care and Seniors Minister, runs Connections – a meeting group for seniors which Mary supports as a volunteer.
In normal times, Connections provides a range of activities for older residents, as well as a safe and welcoming place to meet over coffee and cake. During Coronavirus, when it has not been possible to organise meetings, Pippa, Mary and the other volunteers have done very impressive work to ensure that Connections continues to support local residents who need it.
One of the most important ways that Connections is doing this is through the ‘Daily Hope’ – a phone line, backed by the Church of England, which allows people to listen to hymns, reflections and prayers. The phone line (0800 804 8044) is free of charge, and available 24/7.
As I heard from Audrey Griffin, a regular user of the phone line, Daily Hope has become an essential service for vulnerable and isolated members of society. I was impressed to learn that it has received over 220,000 calls since it launched soon after the start of lockdown.
It was also encouraging to hear of the other support that Connections has been providing to elderly residents in recent months. The group’s ‘Cascade of Care’, for example, sees volunteers regularly calling Connections guests, as well as providing practical everyday support where possible.
My thanks to all the volunteers involved in Connections, and to Pippa and Mary for taking the time to talk about their work.
