Christian befriending service, Linking Lives UK, are pleased to announce the appointment of their new Regional Development Officer for Midlands and North of England
Award-winning Christian befriending service, Linking Lives UK, are pleased to announce the appointment of their new Regional Development Officer for Midlands and North of England, Nick Amis.
Nick has a great deal of experience helping churches and Christian organisations support those most at need within their local community. He has worked with Cinnamon Network as a church advisor since 2014 in the East Midlands, and has recently also taken on responsibility for East of England.
Nick said, âIâm delighted to have been selected for this new role with Linking Lives UK. Their work is of great importance in enabling the church to care for older, vulnerable people.
âI hope to be able to help churches to provide support for isolated older people within their local community. The business of the church is caring for the poor, lonely and lost, for that is who God came to save.â
His role will be to help churches determine the need for support and set up befriending projects in their area to support social isolated older people.
Social isolation is one of the biggest issues facing the UK at present with 1.8 million people over 75 who are profoundly lonely. Around 5m older people considering the TV as their main form of company, and over 500,000 older people spent Christmas Day alone last year.
Linking Lives provides everything that a church might need to set up and run a befriending project. This includes training, support, policies, procedures and access to their annual conference. Linking Lives can help churches in the following ways:
⢠guidance on how to link with those in need in your area
⢠easy to follow getting started guide
⢠help with identifying sources of volunteers
⢠advice on safe guarding and insurance liability
⢠assist with finding funding (where required)
⢠listening to ideas and suggesting ways forward
⢠help plan effective support for the local community
If you are considering how you or your church could help address loneliness in your local area, or would like to know more about identifying local need please feel free to Nick on 07979 366654 or email nick@linkinglives.uk.
You can learn more by visiting https://linkinglives.uk/get-involved/
