BT is to roll out its employee-led Care Home Companions initiative across the UK in partnership with leading provider HC-One.
Since 2020, BT, EE and Plusnet call centre staff have been volunteering to regularly chat with care home residents to keep their spirits up during the pandemic.
Following a successful launch in north-east England, BT is expanding Care Home Companions to over 300 care homes nationwide with HC-One, with the ambition to have 1,600 volunteers making 15,000 calls to care home residents over the next year.
Call centres taking part in the initiative include Darlington, Sheffield, Leeds and Doxford Park, and will be expanding to a total of 30 centres, with additions including Accrington, Blackburn, Lancaster, Liverpool and Warrington throughout the year.
In line with BT’s mission to Connect for Good, the original idea for Care Home Companions was born out of an existing project set-up by a group of BT employees in 2020 to help tackle loneliness in the UK.
The pilot scheme led to 140 volunteers making over 1,600 calls to care homes in the north-east.
BT volunteers together with HC-One are taking the project one step further to help even more residents across the country to combat loneliness for this vulnerable part of society.
“During the coronavirus pandemic we've had to adapt the way we do things, and for the people we care for, their relationships with the outside world and community links have become even more important,” said HC-One quality of life Robi Roccella.
“We are grateful to be working with BT and EE, for not only the time their volunteers have given to help the people we care for to stay connected, but also helping them through their weekly calls to lead active and fulfilling lives,” she added.
