Diane and her husband lived happily in Poundbury where they bought a house 30 years ago when the town was just a building site. She tells me about how King Charles, when he was the Prince, was a frequent visitor when overseeing the development by the Duchy. She laughs about how one day he knocked on her door asking, “Any chance of a cup of tea?”, and then plonked himself down on her stairs to remove his wellies and replace them with his much cleaner shoes!

After her husband sadly passed away, and despite having a loving son and a good neighbour, Diane’s lack of mobility has meant it was a bit more of a struggle to make the effort to leave the house alone. She had lost a bit of confidence, and she didn’t like to bother anyone too often. Her son contacted VCD to see if anyone would be able to accompany his mother on a weekly walk, or pop in for a cup of tea if the weather is a bit grim. Susan responded to say she could visit Diane, and their relationship has flourished.

Susan is a teacher who works three days a week and volunteers in her free time. She really enjoys meeting up with Diane, and it’s the 1-1 aspect of this volunteering role that appeals to her in particular as she enjoys building a rapport with someone. She says she had considered volunteering in a charity shop, but has found the direct interaction of this role more rewarding. She ad-hoc nature of buddying is also more flexible and suits her lifestyle. Susan is a very active person herself, and says she imagines what it must be like for those who now find it too difficult to go out alone, and knows how much she would miss it herself. So just being able to support someone to get out and enjoy some fresh air and a change of scenery is so beneficial.

Diane really appreciates Susan’s visits as it gives her the confidence to get out and get some exercise, and also to have a good chat and a cup of tea. Diane says she’s not particularly lonely, she can get out in her garden and is generally happy enough and capable, but Susan’s visits do give her something extra to look forward to. A year after the initial referral, these ladies still meet up once a week and go for a stroll together. It’s an hour out of Susan’s week, and they both value it greatly. Diane says that it took a bit of time to get to know one another, but “after a few weeks I was able to call her a real friend – and you can’t ask for more than that!”