15th March 2010
TalkTalk’s new "We’ll Call You" befriending scheme for older people has been criticised by Pat Fitzsimons, Chief Executive of social telephony charity, Community Network.
“I welcome TalkTalk’s interest in the growing problems of isolation and social exclusion that many older people experience, but I fear they are missing the point.”
The We’ll Call You scheme involves volunteers from the mobile phone company’s staff phoning people who have registered with the scheme, and engaging them in conversation on any topic for five minutes.
“Community Network has been pioneering the delivery of social care through social telephony for twenty years and has found that linking up older people using telephone befriending groups, and not one-to-one communication, is the best way to tackle social isolation,” said Ms Fitzsimons.
”Whereas the TalkTalk scheme offers little more than a brief chat with a total stranger, telephone befriending groups provide an opportunity for up to eight people to link up once a week for an hour to share stories and experiences, and make new friends.”
She added: “Major corporations who recognise they have a social responsibility are to be applauded, but they should seek expert advice on how best to tackle a problem before launching their initiatives, otherwise their efforts will have little or no impact.”
Over the past two decades Community Network has successfully run many telephone well-being and support projects for older people and other vulnerable groups. These have included book clubs, faith groups, carol concerts, as well as social and friendship groups.
