Fluffy Dogs, Ice Creams, and AI – All In Day’s Volunteer Work!

Here at Neighbours Connect Southmead we work with adults aged 55+ to support social connections and tackle loneliness. We offer group gatherings, activities, meetings, and trips, with a befriending service at our core to match trained volunteers with the individuals referred to us.

One of our volunteers supports a resident who suffered a life-changing stroke in 2019; since the stroke our participant has needed care and support to help with everyday tasks. Our volunteer takes her on short local outings such as to the Mall for ice cream sundaes!

As well as loving sundaes, our participant loves dogs, and so our volunteer brings her own friendly little pooch Scruffy along on visits – this has proved to be another great match. Our participant said –

“My volunteer helps me so very much. I hardly get to go out as my carers need their time to clean my flat, and so I really enjoy going out with my volunteer. I get on really well with her and I love her dog – I get to play with him”.

Our participant has also discovered a love of enhancing her own photos using AI – she wanted to share the ones you can see of her with her volunteer and Scruffy, along with one including our Neighbours Connect Service Manager – Simone.

You can read more about Neighbours Connect Southmead on our website HERE, and find out how to contact us if you would like to become a volunteer.

To get straight in touch, email: neighbours@southmead.org, or call: 0117 950 3335

Click to our What’s On Calendar for our many weekly activities and connection events HERE