We support: Re-Engage

Stephanie Hutchings, founder of The Resilient Workplace, was recently shortlisted for Re-engage’s Volunteer of the Year 2020.

Re-engage is a charity which aims to tackle loneliness in older people, helping them to reconnect with their communities through regular social contact. The charity and its volunteers organise frequent social gatherings for older guests, giving them a lifeline of friendship and something to look forward to. Re-engage believes that no one is ever too old to make new friends and enjoy social interaction.

Stephanie has been a Group Co-ordinator for Re-engage since 2017. As part of her role, she organises regular social gatherings for people aged 75 and over, who live alone. These events are really important for the mental health and wellbeing of many isolated older people.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 crisis has had a devastating impact on older people who struggle with loneliness, especially those who have few family members or friends to talk to. Ordinarily, Re-engage runs over 900 social groups and activities for isolated older people. However, in response to the crisis, the charity has had to suspend regular social gatherings. Instead, they have set up a UK-wide call companion service, to ensure that older people who are feeling alone receive a regular friendly phone call.

Throughout the Covid-19 lockdown and beyond, Stephanie has been actively keeping in contact with all her guests and has even got her family involved with supporting the group. Through offering companionship to older people, Stephanie has given those who are isolated a vital link to the outside world, despite the current crisis.

Stephanie’s efforts have earned her recognition from Re-engage in their annual volunteer awards, where she was shortlisted for Volunteer of the Year 2020.  All the winners are nominated by the older people they support, and have been recognised for their dedication and determination – especially through the Covid-19 crisis, which has had a detrimental effect on those who the charity aims to help.

The Resilient Workplace is proud to support Re-engage, a charity which recognises the harmful impact of social isolation and understands the importance of the mental health and wellbeing of the older population.

Re-engage is successfully fighting loneliness in older people by establishing meaningful connections and, in the last year alone, the charity has helped 8,500 lonely and isolated older people. To find out more about the charity and how you can get involved, visit their website here: www.reengage.org.uk