Coronavirus: Peterborough friendship club launches buddy scheme

Now in its 19th year, the club runs every Monday on a purely voluntary basis and was set up with money from Peterborough City Council and Age Concern, now Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (Age UK CAP).

After the first year, the group began raising funds for itself and now has 45 members. It was the first club of its type to be set up in Peterborough and it provides members with a two course hot meal for lunch every week.

Due to government guidance to reduce the spread of coronavirus by limiting social contact, the club is currently not running as usual. Instead, the buddy scheme has been launched so volunteers can call members to check they are okay and provide support by bringing them food shopping and prescriptions.

Barbara Holdich has helped the club since it began and has run it for most of that time. She said: “The idea of a buddy scheme was suggested in the early days of the virus by Mandy Dewdney from Age UK CAP, who co-ordinates our clubs. So on our last day before closure, Monday, March 16, I talked to all the volunteers and asked them to take on board ringing various members every day or two to make sure they were alright and if they needed anything like food shopping or prescriptions.

“They were very happy to do this and the members also keep in regular contact with each other, so everyone is getting plenty of company, albeit it over the telephone.

“Everyone I have called has told me that several people have rung them, and they sounded really uplifted by the support they are giving to one another.

“Our oldest member, a lady called Win Vine, stopped coming to the club when she was 103. She has just celebrated her 105th birthday and I popped a card round to her, and I rang her for a lovely chat on Easter Sunday.”

Beverley Young, manager at Age UK CAP, added: “Glinton Friendship Club is one of 11 friendship clubs we support across the city, and each club has introduced a similar buddy system to stay in touch with their members. It is wonderful how everyone is supporting each other.”

Cllr John Holdich, leader of Peterborough City Council and also a ward councillor for Glinton, said: “It’s vitally important that people stay in touch during these difficult times, especially those who are vulnerable.

“The friendship club is one of many community groups going the extra distance to help those in need - it’s fantastic to see and I’m really proud of everyone involved.”