EMH Care and Support highlights important role of volunteers

A local charitable organisation which is supported by Community Chesterfield has highlighted the importance of recruiting volunteers to support them in delivering their services to those who need it.

EMH Care and Support, which helps vulnerable people live an enjoyable, independent life, recently attended Community Chesterfield’s Peer Engagement Group meeting to share a story about the positive impact volunteers can have on service users.

The charity, which has a base in Chesterfield, recognised a need to offer a befriending service to help those feeling lonely or isolated and who lack in confidence to go out on their own.

They teamed up with Enrych, which supports adults living with a disability, poor mental health and those who are socially isolated, and they were lucky enough to be contacted by Helen Gratton, who wanted to become a volunteer befriender.

After meeting with the two charities, Helen was introduced to Emma, who is supported by EMH Care and Support. Emma has previously been visited by the charity team and it became evident that she received very low amounts of support each week and, as a result, relied heavily on the support of her mum to  transport her to the activities she took part in each week.

The charity felt she would benefit from being involved in the befriending scheme to increase her confidence in going out without her mum, as well as encouraging her to go to new places and meet new people.

Helen and Emma quickly formed a close bond and the two began meeting weekly, going swimming together and meeting for coffee. Helen also takes Emma to the EMH choir, which takes place once a fortnight.

Since COVID, their meeting have been limited but they are hoping to resume weekly or fortnightly get togethers very soon.

Emma, who lives in shared accommodation provided by EMH Care and Support, said: “I was lonely before I met Helen. I didn’t really have anyone to talk to. Now it’s got me going to places and doing things I didn’t do before. It is helping me to meet new people.”

Helen, who studied Family Health and Wellbeing at University of Derby’s St Helena Campus and now works at Fairplay Charity, said: “Emma is a really great companion. She makes me laugh. Now it feels like I’m not just a volunteer befriender – Emma is my friend now. It’s really rewarding to know that she is enjoying the support and I think we have both got a lot out of it.”

For more information about EMH Care and Support visit their website.

If you’d like to speak to the Community Chesterfield team about volunteering opportunities at local voluntary and community sector groups, please contact us.