During October and November 2024, with the help of our team of impact volunteers, we spoke to 18 older people and 21 volunteers on our call companions service in partnership with Parkinson’s UK. Their feedback offers valuable insight into the difference that telephone befriending can make.

We were happy to find that the service is having an impressive impact: reducing loneliness and increasing social contact for four out of five older people. In turn, joining the service has increased their confidence (80%) and happiness (87%).

Almost all of the older people we spoke to agreed that joining Re-engage has had a positive impact on their life and given them something to look forward to (93%).

About nine out of 10 older people said they had found a friend in their matched volunteer, with people telling us that “conversation is easy” and referring fondly to their matched volunteer.

“I really do feel as if she is a friend and so look forward to the calls we have. It has been such a help to me to have her to talk to.”

“I feel a sense of calm come over me when I know my call is coming up.”

But the impact doesn’t stop with our older people. Our volunteers spoke in depth on how the calls were mutually beneficial – that “I get as much out of it as I put in”. All of our volunteers reported feeling like they’re giving something back and that they are making a difference.

As a result, a big majority of our volunteers feel happier (82%) and say their wellbeing has improved (74%) since joining the service. Three-quarters of our volunteers also feel they have gained new skills and have an increased understanding of loneliness and isolation (74%) as a result of being a Parkinson’s call companion.

“It is very fulfilling and best of all, I enjoy our calls and look forward to chatting with her. Older people have a mountain of stories and you never know what ones you’ll get.”

“Volunteering has had a great impact on me and has brought me a lot of joy through my conversations with my call companion.”  

We’re delighted that all the volunteers and older people surveyed rated their experience with Re-engage as good or excellent. To date, we have matched 85 people through this important partnership.