November 1st – 7th is Befriending week!
We want to take this opportunity to share a little about our Telephone Befriending Service for anyone affected by cancer.
Ray of Light Cancer Support Telephone Befriending Service
In a world that at times can feel isolated and disconnected, human connection remains a powerful tool where the bond between people continues to provide comfort and reassurance. When faced with the effects of cancer and the accompanying emotional distress, loneliness can become an even more profound reality.
At Ray of Light we proudly provide a telephone befriending service that efficiently defies distance and brings comfort to those in need, helping to fill the void that can be sometimes felt alongside a diagnosis. This blog piece explores how our trained and dedicated team are lending a listening ear and spreading warmth through this invaluable service.
The Power of Listening
Cancer patients, families, friends, and carers often find themselves facing an emotional rollercoaster, grappling with fear, anxiety, and the uncertainty that accompanies the illness. Amidst a whirlwind of medical appointments, treatments, and managing the new circumstances they find themselves in they frequently long for someone who can simply listen, empathise, and offer a compassionate ear. Often speaking to someone they don’t know can be more freeing.
Our telephone befriending service can provide an outlet for individuals to share their experiences, fears, hopes, and joys with a supportive team member who has undergone comprehensive training to ensure they possess the necessary skills to offer comfort, encouragement, and advice. These connections with others have shown to be a crucial lifeline, encouraging a feeling of community and giving people the confidence, they need to face the challenges of theirs or their loved ones cancer journey.
Dedicated Team Members Making a Difference:
At the heart of our telephone befriending service is a dedicated team of employees and volunteers who generously offer their time and energy to making a difference in the lives of cancer patients and anyone who is affected by cancer. Ray of Light ensures that each individual receives extensive training to equip them with the necessary skills like knowledge and understanding, empathy, active listening and signposting to other beneficial services and organisations.
Regular conversations with those affected by cancer means our team can provide emotional support, friendship, and a feeling of normalcy for people facing a rollercoaster of emotions. To ensure a consistent and familiar experience throughout the process, we purposefully match our befriending volunteers and team members with a beneficiary that we feel will be well suited and the Project Coordinator is on hand to offer guidance and assistance. Calls are scheduled at a time that suits both parties and are initially offered over a period of six weeks with the option of an extension if required. Additionally, to prioritise safety, all volunteers have undergone a DBS check.
Benefits of Telephone Befriending
The positive effects of our telephone befriending service extend far beyond the momentary conversations shared. Research has shown that regular social interaction has a profound impact on mental health, including reduced feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression. We know the devastating impact cancer has on individuals and families, we want to help re-engage people into the community and offer supported attendance at our groups and events to increase self-esteem, confidence and social connectedness.
By providing people in need with a reliable lifeline, we aim to help carry some of the upset of the devastating emotional toll that this illness often brings. Not only do we see benefits for people affected by cancer but we also see the positive the calls can have on the team, knowing the impact their calls can have on the lives of those they connect with. This can increase the teams own sense of purpose and understanding and in turn increase their own wellness, self-confidence and reduction in stress. Together, we can offer solace and companionship to those affected by the disease, ensuring that no one endures their battle alone, standing together as a community, united in the fight against cancer and its isolating effects.
The telephone befriending service our charity provides serves as a reminder that there is a place people can go to for support in their times of need, a non-judgemental space to talk as much or as little as needed.
‘When you think everything is hopeless, a little ray of light comes from somewhere.’
You can self-refer to our service by emailing us at: contactus@rayoflightwales.org.uk
For more information please see our information page https://rayoflightwales.org.uk/telephone-befriending/
