My son Alex, a second-year BSc Mental Health Nursing student at Canterbury Christchurch University, and his friends, have recently set up a free check-in & chat service for isolated and vulnerable customers of my other gardening business ‘Ladybirds Garden Service’ during the Covid-19 virus lockdown – but now they want to take this even further.
“I knew there was a way me and my course mates could help, Alex said. “We have some experience and we love caring for people, so I put two and two together. We set up a buddy scheme, we check in with people weekly and make sure they are OK. If there are any issues where someone is at risk or suffering, it is fed back and we support or signpost where necessary. The students have received feedback from customers who have said how valuable the initiative has been to members of the local community.
“This work is absolutely brilliant and I’d like to send my best wishes to Alex and his mother and to the team of our students engaged in this initiative. ” Debra Towse, Dean of Medicine, Health and Social Care
www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/news.aspx?id=f2064b90-4b8b-4810-a93f-e4b9762486c2
The volunteering experience has provided the students with real-life experience. Speaking on the initiative, he said: “The feedback we’ve received is really making a difference to people’s lives. “We’ve been told they really value speaking to the “nurses of tomorrow” and I’m so happy my course mates and I are doing this together.”
Alex had his article published on 2nd June 2020 in the Nursing Standard. You can read it here. https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/students/nursing-studies/easing-loneliness-lockdown-nursing-student-initiative-thats-just-a-call-away-161436#.XtZ6ycluUys.twitter
If you require support, or want to get involved, then please contact Alex at: alexrichardson136@gmail.com, or call him at 07756606621
