Honiton Carers Support Group met at Hospiscare's Kings House on Wednesday, July 24. Mollie Bolton, Admin Assistant and Janine Steadman, Volunteer Coordinator for Trip's Befriending Service were our speakers today.

Mollie gave a brief history of how Trip has developed over the last 22 years and how the changes have accelerated dramatically since she joined the company three years ago.

She explained that Neil Hurlocks Trip's Manager and Assistant Manager Sharon are both full time, the rest are volunteers and part time.

As well as the Ring and Ride Service, volunteers using their own vehicles provide a service driving people to Hospital and medical appointments and wait to bring them back home.

Trip has a shop on New Street where they sell and hire disability equipment such as wheelchairs and scooters and also give advice so customers can make informed decisions on what to buy without obligation. Customers can also be referred to the Rehab Team.

All the Trip Mini Buses are wheelchair friendly.

Trip covers Seaton, Honiton, Ottery St Mary and Budleigh.

Other Services such as Ring and Ride, Shopping Trips ,Trips Out, and the Passenger Club were mentioned and a leaflet about these services was handed around.

Janine Steadman replaced Carol Smythe, who looked after the befriending service for seven years. She said her job was to reach as many people as possible and to make them aware of the service which is partly funded by the NHS and partly the Claire Milne Trust, but to take this service forward they need further funding.

On a daily basis Janine looks after the current 'befrienders' and makes sure they are trained and happy.

She looks after the people who are being befriended, and recruits and trainers new 'befrienders'.

Currently they have eight new 'befrienders' who now have friends they meet up with. Recruitment is done through advertising in shop windows and people coming in wishing to volunteer.

Janine explained that there are numerous isolated and lonely people in our community all of whom should have access to someone they can call a friend with whom they can enjoy some quality time and share experiences.

Training can be individual or in groups and matching the 'befriender' to the person requiring a friend, is very important for both parties.

This is done on a one to one basis, and both parties needless to say have to be happy, or it will not work.

Feedback from both sides is essential and can be done by phone, email, text or just by calling into the office.

Winnie Cameron thanked Janine and Mollie for their very interesting talk.