CoronaUnity to strengthen Exeter’s efforts against isolation-induced loneliness
CoronaUnity, a non-profit organisation helping those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic, has launched a telephone service in the UK connecting those experiencing loneliness through isolation with volunteers who are available for a friendly chat. Their PhoneAFriend venture comes as a result of the challenging isolation guidelines released by the UK government to tackle Covid-19. The service is expected to help alleviate and prevent this increased loneliness, and instead, foster a sense of calm and normality amongst the surrounding uncertainty.
CoronaUnity’s PhoneAFriend service is live on their website, https://www.coronaunity.org, where anyone in Exeter over the age of 18, who would like to receive a call or volunteer to make a call, can sign up.
It is important to CoronaUnity that they work alongside, rather than in place of, current efforts. Their PhoneAFriend service provides the platform and infrastructure for use by Exeter-based groups who are trying to reduce loneliness in their local area.
PhoneAFriend has also been designed to be as accessible as possible. For this reason, the steps for signing up are kept to a minimum. An online form collecting contact details and availability must be completed on CoronaUnity’s website. A text message will be sent upon matching with the opposite member of their call, at which point the volunteer will call and a friendly conversation to brighten both parties’ day takes place!
Commenting on the telephone service, James Augustin and Aydin Hepsaydir, co-founders of CoronaUnity, said, “CoronaUnity have teamed up with a global co-operative to provide a telephone service that will improve the quality of life for many during this pandemic. Something as simple as a friendly chat may mean the world to those feeling the effects of this time of unprecedented isolation, and we hope that PhoneAFriend will help those affected in the Exeter area.”
CoronaUnity has already set up a number of PhoneAFriend calls and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Commenting on one of their calls, a requester said, “Very good experience. My caller was very pleasant and got the tone of the conversation exactly correct. Would recommend this PhoneAFriend service to anyone that is experiencing a feeling of isolation or loneliness.” James Augustin also stated that “One beautiful thing we are starting to see is that we are bridging the intergenerational gap”. It certainly seems that both sides of the call are enjoying the service, with one student volunteer commenting, “Volunteering for CoronaUnity has been great and I’m grateful to have had the chance to help and do my part during this pandemic.” and another saying, “[I] came away from the conversation feeling like I've made a friend”.
“We are already in the process of optimising this service for care home use, as well as developing ways to allow charities and mutual aid groups to be more involved. With many more people likely to be affected by the current pandemic, the UK must pull together as a community - now more than ever. We hope that by creating a centralised platform providing access to rounded support for those in need during Covid-19, CoronaUnity will be able to contribute to Exeter already incredible efforts.’’ concluded Augustin.
