The In Touch Wales Befriending scheme, which is funded by the BIG Lottery AdvantAge Programme, is for individuals over 50 with combined sight and hearing loss. It aims to lessen social isolation and enhance quality of life by linking individuals with a volunteer befriender who will visit regularly to enable people to once again do more of the things they enjoy. Volunteers are needed across Wales to help people with a combined sight and hearing loss to get out to meet friends and socialise with people in their own community or to simply visit for a cup of tea and a chat. If you or someone you know in the Rhondda area has combined sight and hearing loss and would like assistance or you would like to be a volunteer please contact Nerys Leeke on 02920 601472/ nerys.leeke@deafblind.org.uk.
The Rhondda group meet on the last Wednesday of the month. They are a small social group who enjoy meeting and going out for coffees and lunches together. The social element is very important to them and the group helps to reduce their isolation and brings them into the community. We are looking for new members with a dual sensory loss to join the group and help it expand. The group also enables members to access information and get support from one another, and Deafblind Cymru, which they may not normally get.
If you are interested in attending please contact Laura Lees on 07940 858749 or laura.lees@deafblind.org.uk
