Become a Call Companion

Our Call Companion service connects a volunteer with an older person, aged 75 or over, who is experiencing loneliness and isolation. As a Call Companion volunteer, you’ll make a regular phone call, typically once a week, to foster friendship, enjoyment and conversation.

This role description sets out the aims and expectations of the role, your responsibilities and Re-engage’s commitment to supporting you as a volunteer.

Your role:

  • Call the older person you’ve been matched with for approximately 20-30 minutes, usually once a week.
  • Provide companionship over the phone by talking about interests, experiences and by providing a listening ear.
  • Maintain the boundaries set out in our training and report any concerns to Re-engage.
  • Keep your knowledge and training up to date by reading our volunteer newsletter – Re-engage Matters – sent monthly by email.

To become a Call Companion you’ll need to:

  • Complete an induction – you might choose to attend a group induction or watch our pre-recorded video.
  • Submit an ID check – you’ll need either a passport, driving licence, national insurance number or national identity card to do this.
  • Provide a character reference – your referee can be an employer, a colleague, a friend, neighbour or community representative.
  • Complete online training – these modules will help you get the most out of the role and take approximately one hour to complete.

Practical details:

  • A flexible, homebased volunteering role that fits around your availability.
  • No personal details are ever shared with your match, with calls made via our secure befriending platform.
  • To keep our services free for older people, we can’t pay expenses for this role.
  • You’ll be over 18 and able to commit to 12 months of volunteering (approximately 26 hours over a year).

Could you be our next Call Companion?

  • You can demonstrate patience and empathy.
  • You are responsible, will uphold our boundaries and raise any worries or concerns with Re-engage.
  • You will endeavour to keep conversation friendly, positive and engaging.
  • You are able to complete online training.
  • The opportunity to share, learn and develop a friendship with an older person who you may not have typically connected with.
  • The chance to improve your active listening skills.
  • A deeper understanding of the challenges faced by older people and the impact of loneliness.
  • Regular training updates and opportunities to help us improve our services.
  • The opportunity to radically improve and add value to an older person’s life, and in turn, your own.
  • Comprehensive training relating to the skills you’ll need to succeed as a Call Companion.
  • Core training relating to safeguarding, EDI and GDPR.
  • Regular updates via our volunteer newsletter, Re-engage Matters, with case studies, tips and updates relating to your role.
  • Support throughout your volunteering journey, should you have any questions or need any advice relating to your match.
  • Access to our safeguarding team, who are here to support you should you have any concerns.

Contact us

We have teams across the UK.

Address

Re-engage
7 Bell Yard
London
WC2A 2JR

Freephone:

0800 716543

Office phone:

020 7240 0630