CONNECTING Chelford is raising awareness of its valuable role in the community alongside Loneliness Awareness Week.

Connecting Chelford supports lonely and vulnerable residents in the Chelford area.

The free service was set up in April 2018 to deliver a volunteer befriending service in Chelford and the local area, which could support people who may feel lonely and/or isolated and in need of company and conversation from local community residents.

Connecting Chelford is a constituted group with a committee supported by Chelford Surgery and St John’s Church.

All volunteers are Enhanced DBS checked and policies are in place to safeguard all involved. The service has 25 volunteers and over the last 12 months 15 residents are being or have been supported.

Connecting Chelford has received financial support, as well as services in kind, advice and guidance from a Chelford family, AJ Boons Butchers, Chelford Community Hub, Chelford Farm Supplies, Chelford Surgery; Chelford Together, End of Life Partnership, Full Colour Printers, Matt Dingle Computer Services, National Westminster Bank and St John’s Church.

More recently it received grant awards from Cheshire East Carers Hub and Assura Healthy Communities, to ensure the service continues into a second year.

Reverend Fiona Robinson said: “As chairman of the Connecting Chelford Management Committee, I am delighted that the existing volunteer befrienders can be increased following successful grant applications, thus allowing more residents to be supported.”

If you are interested in hearing more about the service, know someone who may benefit from visits, or would like to become a befriending volunteer or help in other ways email connectingchelford@gmail.com