Church Links
Churches Supporting Communities Across the Borough of Walsall
Projects
Featured Project: Walsall Senior Citizens Link Line Based at St. Chad’s Church Beechdale
The Open Door Project at St. Chad’s Church Beechdale has developed the Walsall Senior Citizens Link Line and at present has around ninety plus members.
Working within the Walsall area, the Link Line provides a telephone call system to support the lives of elderly people and where necessary offer solutions to everyday problems that cause stress. We have formed partnerships with other agencies including Age Concern, Walsall Borough Council Older People’s Services, Neighbourhood Community Officers, New Deal, Walsall Primary Care Trust, Walsall NHS Trust, West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service.
We have a Project Manager and one part time paid worker plus several volunteers who make the phone calls, make visits to members and take them shopping or to hospital appointments. Small household jobs are also undertaken by volunteers.
The Link Line also offers a facility to telephone in to the project 24 hours a day if clients feel they need support in resolving a situation that is causing stress and worry or if they just need someone to talk to. The Link Line enables members to live independently for longer and also reduces time spent in hospital in some cases.
In addition to the calls and visits there are two weekly drop-in sessions for those who are able to get out, lunch is provided and it is a chance to meet socially: both of the sessions are very successful and each has its own identity and a great atmosphere. We are very pleased with this development and members look forward to coming along. We meet on Monday 10 to 12 at St Catherine with St. Chad’s Church, Edison Road, Beechdale, and Thursday 10 to 12 at Christ Church Hall, Blakenall Heath.
We provide lunch and information days which have been well attended and have proved useful to members, this happens twice a year when we bring in agencies offering services to the elderly in Walsall.
To find out more about Link Line or to make a donation, please contact
Mandy Keay Project Manager C/o St Chad's Vicarage Edison Road Beechdale Walsall WS2 7HT 07742 917766
