Good Morning Dungannon and Armagh
Publish Date: Friday, 01 June 2007
Mayor of Dungannon & South Tyrone, Councillor Jim Hamilton hosted the official launch of the Good Morning Armagh and Dungannon Project in the Dungannon Council Offices on Monday 4th June.
The project, which is co-ordinated by Armagh and Dungannon Volunteer Centre and based in their Dungannon office, offers older people in the two council areas a telephone call every morning at the same time to check on their well being, have a friendly conversation and to keep them up to date on different activities and services that are available in the area. Volunteers are responsible for making the calls seven mornings a week, 365 days a year.
Good Morning Project Worker Olivia Slean explains:
"Our clients gain peace of mind from the calls because they are safe in the knowledge that if their phone is not answered within half an hour of their pre arranged call time, that their nominated contact will call to their home to check that they are alright. As well as this aspect of the project I don't think the friendships that have been created between our volunteers who make the calls and our elderly clients can be underestimated".
Neil Gillan, Co-ordinator of the Volunteer Centre highlighted that the launch was taking place on the first day of Volunteers Week which was a welcome opportunity to highlight the commitment of the Projects volunteers:
"Our volunteers are the backbone of this project and without their dedication we could not help so many of our community's elderly population".
On his final day as Mayor of the Borough, Councillor Jim Hamilton stated that he was "confident that this service was helping to relieve the feeling of isolation and loneliness that many older people in our community feel".
"I am delighted to see so many people attend the launch of Good Morning Armagh & Dungannon and I sincerely hope that this will help raise awareness amongst those that work with the elderly."
The 'Good Morning' service is provided free of charge as it has been funded by the Big Lottery. If you would like to hear more about the project, please telephone Olivia on (028) 8772 9690.
