Workload up for Good Morning Down staff

Workload up for Good Morning Down staff

8 April 2020

THE Good Morning Down charity which provides a telephone befriending service to elderly and vulnerable people across the district has increased the number of calls it makes as the coronavirus  takes hold.

Volunteers who work for highly acclaimed charity — now in its 15th year — have relocated from the organisation’s base at the Down Business Park in Downpatrick to their homes to ensure that the friendly voices people have come to rely on continue to be heard.

Good Morning Down has also confirmed that in addition to increasing the number of calls that it makes, it has moved some people off the service’s waiting list in order that they can receive a call at this worrying time.

Since it launch in 2005, Good Morning Down has supported over 450 people with a wide range of disabilities and needs and the service it provides to people who live alone has never been more important.

While there is concern among the senior citizens they contact and who have been advised to remain in doors for the foreseeable future, there is also great stoicism, with several able to recall hardships that they had to endure during World War Two.

Staffed by 22 volunteers, the charity normally makes around 350 calls between Monday and Friday but the number has increased to help reassure elderly and vulnerable people that they are not alone.

Relocating staff away from their main hub at Innovation House, the charity is unable to pick up any messages that may be left on the Good Morning Down answering machine. To help overcome this a new mobile telephone number is available — 07340 099938.

Good Morning Down was established to help reduce loneliness and isolation. Volunteers also signpost those who need further support to other agencies.

Good Morning’s Down service has never been more important. One of the charity’s volunteers, Aidan Harris, says the current climate represents a challenge for everyone, particularly those who live alone.

“The staff moved out of our base at the business park over two weeks ago, but we are providing the service from our own homes and what we are doing is very much appreciated by those we contact every week,” he explained.

“We certainly are living in unprecedented times; none of us have ever experienced anything like this in our lifetimes and hopefully will never do again.”

Aidan explained that while a lot of information people need to hear is circulated via social media, many elderly people do not have access to it. In the main, he said they are relying on the television and radio.

“We are letting them know what is happening and reinforcing the message to stay indoors and not let anyone into their home, even their own relatives. We are highlighting the importance of them doing all that they can not to catch the virus,” the charity volunteer continued.

“People are very concerned at what is going on and many of those whom we contact used to get out to attend various clubs but they have all closed due to the pandemic which means the elderly and vulnerable are spending even longer alone in their homes.”

Aidan also revealed that some who normally received only one call a week are now getting several more, with people brought off the waiting list so they can be contacted.

He also revealed that the charity is also providing the people they contact with details about local shops which are providing a delivery service.

“We are emphasising the hand hygiene message as much as we can and reminding people to stay indoors. We are also telling them to exercise social distancing and not let anyone into their homes,” he said.

“We are also telling those whom we contact not even to let one of their neighbours over the door as it is simply too risky. The people whom we contact are very concerned about what is going on but they are made of stern stuff.”

Aidan added: “All the volunteers are working hard to make sure we maintain contact with our clients, more regularly than in the past by increasing the number of calls we make to them. 

“The reward is how grateful they are for the service we provide and our main goal is do all we can to let them know that we are here for them and want them to keep safe.”