The team behind a befriending service launched to help the East Riding’s most vulnerable and socially isolated residents is encouraging more residents to access support.

The CallER Collective service was launched by HEY Smile Foundation, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and various local charitable organisations on March 27^th 2020 – just four days after the country entered its first national lockdown.

Dozens of volunteers came forward to offer telephone calls to lonely and isolated residents, giving up their time to become a regular reassuring, caring and supportive voice at the end of the phone for those who need it most.

Now, as the service marks its first anniversary on Saturday, March 27^th, the team has announced it has capacity to accept more beneficiaries and additional telephone befrienders to help a larger number of vulnerable residents.

Since the CallER Collective service began, 205 people across the East Riding have received regular befriending calls, with over 1,000 calls made and more than 1,500 hours of support provided.

Andy Barber, Chief Executive of HEY Smile Foundation, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the response from volunteers over the past 12 months and the service is making a real difference.

“We currently have 33 volunteer telephone befrienders and 15 of those have been with us since we launched the service in March last year. We now want to hear from more people who feel they will benefit from this service, as loneliness and isolation are not just problems purely related to Covid.

“The idea for the service was originally sparked by the passion of an anonymous local individual who made a generous donation to kickstart the initiative and help to cover costs, which was amazing and helped to pave the way for the service.

“We’d like to thank East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the National Lottery Community Foundation for their funding to make CallER Collective possible.”

The service has also had the backing of other local organisations and businesses, including Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and The One Point.

Darren Stevens, director of corporate resources at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “What we have seen over the last 12 months is exactly what a positive impact the CallER Collective service has had on the welfare of some of our most lonely and isolated residents in the East Riding.

“The service has been an unquestionable success and I’d like to thank all the volunteers for the wonderful work they continue to do to support and care for our most vulnerable residents. I know a lot of the volunteers have got just as much out of this scheme as the residents themselves and it is fantastic to see residents coming together in such difficult circumstances over the last 12 months.”

To mark one year of the service, HEY Smile Foundation sent CallER Collective-themed biscuits to all 33 current volunteers, made and personalised by bespoke celebration cakemaker Elliegantly Made in Hedon to thank them for offering their time to support others.

Volunteer Katrina McCrudden, from Anlaby, has befriended three people since May last year and said it has been a rewarding experience.

She said: “Becoming a befriender has given me a purpose during Covid when all my other volunteering and activities weren’t possible because I was shielding.

“I jumped at the chance to be able to do something to help and I’ve got as much out of it as the people we befriend.

“It’s nice to be able to talk to someone outside of my normal circle, I enjoy the conversations and it has given me structure. It’s a pleasant way to spend some time and I’ve always felt very supported by HEY Smile Foundation.”

East Riding resident Rosie Johnson, 71, has received regular befriending calls since January.

She said: “I look forward to my befriender ringing at a certain time on a Friday afternoon and we have a lot in common.

“The calls have made me feel lighter because I know I’m going to talk to someone on a weekly basis. I have my carers and my best friend, but I wouldn’t have survived without my befriender too.

“I would recommend the service to anyone else who needs it. It has made a big difference.”

Telephone befrienders are asked to volunteer for a minimum of six weeks, making two hours of calls per week.

The CallER Collective service is available for self-referral from 8am to 10pm every day and can be accessed by calling 01482 215929. Family and friends can also refer on someone’s behalf.

For more information, visit www.callercollective.co.uk