ElderLink
Bringing hope and comfort to older people
Befriending and care home services
BCM's projects serving older people bring important contactand friendship to those who are often isolated and in need of company. Our team of staff and volunteers visit private residences and care homes to bring the hope and comfort of Jesus to older people in Birmingham.
Care home services
The ElderLink team supports churches in delivering Christian services and activity sessions in care homes across the city. We aim to visit care homes in our scheme once a month with interactive Bible stories, prayers, singing of hymns from the past, and a dementia-friendly craft activity. Our activity sessions include reminiscence, movement and sensory stimulation, pet therapy and the arts. Our services and activities are suitable for all, including those with varying levels of dementia.
If your church would like support to hold dementia-friendly services and activity sessions in your local care home, fill in our church enquiry form.
Moments that Matter Befriending
Moments that Matter Befriending provides support and friendship to adults over 65 who are housebound, socially isolated or experiencing loneliness. Our scheme members include isolated carers of a spouse or partner, and those who may lack confidence after an illness or spell in hospital.
We visit those in and around the Acocks Green and Yardley areas - postcode areas B25, B26, B27 and B28 - aiming to bring hope and comfort, reduce their social isolation and improve mental wellbeing.
Moments that Matter Befriending offers monthly visits, which are carried out in pairs by our trained staff and volunteers. During visits we will chat to get to know the scheme member better, and offer encouragement and a kind listening ear. We will tailor the visit to the scheme member's interests and wishes and may bring activities along such as crafts, pictures, quizzes and occasional pet therapy. We also offer to read the Bible and pray with the scheme member, which they can opt in or out of. Where appropriate, scheme members can be signposted on to local community services and we can liaise with charities and organisations on their behalf.
Please get in touch if you would like more information about the scheme, or download our Moments that Matter Befriending leaflet.
If you would like to refer someone to the scheme, fill in our Befriending referral form.
We are looking for Christian volunteers to join our team. If you are a good listener and of a caring nature you could help us make a difference to older adults in Birmingham! If you can offer one day, once a month or more, to visit with our team in Acocks Green, Yardley and surrounding areas, please get in touch Befriending volunteer contact form. If you would like to volunteer for our care home ministry, please use the church enquiry form.
Get in touch
For more information call 0121 707 9422 or email elderlink@birminghamcitymission.co.uk
