A TELEPHONE befriending service has been handed a funding boost after demand skyrocketed during the coronavirus crisis.

Silver Talk, managed by housing association Karbon Homes, has been given a valuable funding boost from corporate partners Travis Perkins and City Electrical Factors.

Three area action partnerships from County Durham also contributed.

The free service helps residents over 55 who may be feeling lonely and isolated to feel contected.

The funding will help the service take on more community volunteers and ensure the service can reach more users across the North East.

Karbon has also contributed funding towards the appointment of a new Silver Talk Co-ordinator who will be starting their new role in October to deliver bids and run projects further than its current geographical footprint.

Gordon Reid from Hexham is a volunteer with the service.

He said: “"Everyone has life experiences they can draw on to become a friend to someone in need and for me becoming a Silver Talk volunteer was a great way to give something back.

“All you need is a couple of hours to spare each week to chat and listen on the phone and you soon build up trust and a friendship. The conversations are free-flowing and enjoyable for both sides.

“I find volunteering in this way very rewarding. It does wonders for my mental health and confidence too because we all have our ups and downs. It’s been a bit of a catalyst for good things in my life.”

Demand for Silver Talk has increased three-fold since March when lockdown measures were put in place across the UK. Over 300 service users now benefit from a 30-minute social chat with a fully trained volunteer each week, a jump from 95 in February.

Paul Moralee, Karbon’s Community Investment Manager, said: “For many older residents, the need to stay at home or self-isolate during the lockdown meant becoming cut off from the normal social contact they would get.

“We were really concerned about the effect it would have on older, more vulnerable people across the area. However, thanks to the hard work of our community and colleague volunteers, we’ve been able to make a real difference to many people’s lives.

“We are very grateful to our partners for this additional funding, which will help us to grow the service, attracting new volunteers to join so even more users can benefit.”

All volunteers are currently working from home and Karbon will provide volunteers with a mobile phone.