Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church

Concern for the loneliness experienced by so many elderly residents in the town is behind a proposed Pilot Project for a Befriender Service being developed by Dalziel St Andrews Parish Church (DStA). With many people feeling so isolated the church is keen to try out a project which will see linkages formed between volunteer befrienders and local elderly people.

The minister at the church, Derek Hughes said, “I know from first hand experience just how lonely so many people are. We have a very large parish and I come across many cases of extreme isolation as I make pastoral calls. We do hope by our Befriender Project to improve the lives of at least some elderly residents in the town.”

The Congregational Board at the church has committed to input some funds to launch a Pilot Befriender Project, hopefully with a start next January. Efforts are now being made to secure the additional funding which will be needed to allow a Co-ordinator to be appointed to oversee the project and ensure that all security and statutory requirements are met. Should funding be secured volunteer befrienders will be sought to act as the link to some local residents.

Already support for the Pilot has come from the Church of Scotland Parish Development Fund (PDF) in Edinburgh. Jessie Bruce of the PDF has been assisting the minister and a small co-ordinating group at DStA in developing the scheme and commented ”the Parish Development Fund Committee is very pleased to support this Pilot Befriender Project in Motherwell and look forward to hearing the outcomes from Dalziel St Andrews in the hope that this will lead on to a permanent scheme for this much needed service for the elderly in the town.”

Although new to Motherwell there is locally a most successful similar BeFriend in Bellshill Project operating from UTHEO, based at Orbiston Parish Church. UTHEO has been operating this project now for three years and is well established with 25 elderly residents benefitting from the service at present. From their Bellshill base the project has aided residents in the wider area including Motherwell and are very supportive of the scheme being proposed at Dalziel St Andrews. Janette Black, Social Convener at DStA and a member of the co-ordinating group said, “The UTHEO Director and staff have been most helpful in assisting us develop our pilot project. On a visit to their offices we were made most welcome and given such useful advice from those who have already successfully launched their BeFriend in Bellshill scheme for the elderly. They have several years of valuable experience which they have kindly offered to share with us as we go forward with our pilot and, hopefully, take this forward into a permanent service.”

The Church has managed to secure the necessary funding to run a one year pilot project which we plan will begin in the new year.  This is with thanks to contributions of £5000 from the Church of Scotland Parish Development Fund, £5000 from the local Social Work Department, £7000 from Faith in Scotland Community Action Fund and £5000 from the Church funds.

A major part of the initiative is the appointment of a Coordinator to oversee the project and help evaluate its worth to see if there is scope for continuing following the pilot year. Following extensive advertisement the Congregational Board at the church were delighted with the response which saw a large number of applications for this post. After an interview process the Board are pleased to welcome Liz Magunnigal as the DLSA Befriending Coordinator.

Liz brings extensive experience to the position having worked in the voluntary and care sector for some time. Although the pilot project does not begin until January Liz has started work already and is actively helping with the important set-up  phase including liaising with the pool of volunteers who have kindly offered to be the first Befrienders in the scheme.

This important project is advised and supported by the Church of Scotland Parish Development Fund, Faith in Scotland Action Forum and the local Social Work Department of North Lanarkshire Council in addition to the direct support of the Dalziel St Andrews congregation. Continued advice and help is being offered by Be Friend in Bellshill, based at Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre and Parish Church who are about to celebrate 5 years of befriending work in their area.

Rev Derek Hughes, Parish Minister at DLSA, said,” We have taken our time in this preparation phase as we are very keen to get our scheme off to a good start. The advice we have been receiving from the organisations supporting us has been
invaluable. We look forward now to working with them and Liz to ensure a successful launch of our pilot scheme in January. We have been so very encouraged by the enthusiasm of the volunteers who have offered to be our first DLSA Befrienders and now look forward to making a real difference in the lives of some elderly residents in the town.”

Liz Magunnigal added, “It is exciting to be here at the start of this new project. We know the need for befriending is very real and I look forward to playing my part with the volunteers and Mr Hughes to make sure we do bring help and support to where it is most needed.”