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Recognising the value of ElderLink's befriending scheme's provision, the Yardley Neighbourhood Networking Scheme has granted funding to the team to employ a new part-time staff member and expand the service.

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Beatte is one of ElderLink's befriending scheme members. She has received regular visits from the team since 2024 when she was referred to them by a social worker. During that time she has been visited at home, in hospital and, most recently after a dememntia diagnosis, in her care home. Over the years, as they have chatted, prayed and looked at old photographs together, her ElderLink visitors have become friends. Beatte said, 'Your visits have made me feel better. I've enjoyed them all, and you've been kind.'

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Beatte's story begins on Gray Street in Aston, where she grew up in her Gran's house. She was the eldest of four children and lost her three brothers and mother quite early on in life. Her father was a 'tic-tac man' for the Perry Barr racing stadium and used to work in the evenings. She was such a beautiful baby that her mother won a prize for her in a competition. She has many memories of Gray Street. It was near the bus depot and she loved watching the tram lights as they came and went. Even as a very young child she had jobs to do around the house, like washing and switching on the lights.

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Beatte often talks about Leonard, her kind brother who loved his Gran very much. Beatte said, 'He stayed with her 'til she died. He looked after us all before that. He sewed and knitted and bought Gran her first washing machine.'

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Of the war, Beatte said, 'Of course it was a war, but I didn't know much about it.' However, she recalls the air raid shelters, one in the garden and one in the house for her aunt, Irene, who was just a week older than her and had TB, so she 'had to keep in. She was a lovely girl - very dark. As the war finished there was a song that came out...' and Beatte sang, remembering all the lyrics, 'Goodnight, Irene, I'll see you in my dreams...'

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Beatte took huge pride in her appearance and enjoyed dressing up to go to the Hippodrome and the pictures in town. 'I had the loveliest clothes. I was well dressed more than anyody.' Beatte worked for a short time in a china shop, 'but that was pulled down when they built the university. I loved that job. I had to find another, so I got one in the Jewellery Quarter. In the war, there in the back of the shop they were working on guns, but I used to do watch straps. I only stopped working when I had my first child.'

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Beatte was widowed in the 1980s. She has always enjoyed gardening and there is a beautiful rambling rose at the front of her last home. She said, 'I had a beautiful garden... roses. Right by the front door is a rose tree - it's gone wild. In the back garden I bought six bushes - pink, blue, white.' Before moving into the care home, she lived there with her daughter, Sarah, and two grandsons. She loves her family, those still caring for her and those who are gone, like Leonard, Irene, Rose, Edith, Billy, Norman, and so many more. 'I thought about writing it in a book,' said Beatte, 'but I never finished it.'

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Expanding the scheme

Like Beatte, each member of ElderLink's befriending scheme has a lifetime of memories to share. ElderLink Manager, Catherine Tresham, said, 'We hope to remain a consistent source of support to those we are visiting, even as we expand the scheme and bring in more referrals and volunteers over the coming months. We are making ourselves known amongst social prescribers, GPs, social services, churches and care agencies who are able to refer to us isolated people. We have already recruited Louisa Tam, a new volunteer, and a new staff team member, Zoe Buttery.'

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Bringing joy

Zoe said, 'I am really enjoying working with ElderLink. Visiting our befriending scheme members in their homes - it's lovely to see how we make a difference to their day. And going into care homes to bring a bit of hope and something different to the residents' day, helping them with a craft which brings them joy when they see what they have created - it is such a blessing.'

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