Jess Baybutt, 29, from Lancashire

29-year-old Jess from Eccleston near Chorley decided to become a Re-engage call companion after hearing about the service through her employer, Alfa Travel, who earlier this year chose Re-engage as their charity for 2024.

Jess has worked for Alfa Travel for 12 years and enjoys talking to the customers when they call to book a holiday. In fact, it’s her experience of speaking to lonely older people which inspired her to sign up as a volunteer call companion.

Jess explained: “Our customers are generally in the 65 plus age group, and some of them are very lonely. Sometimes, people just phone Alfa Travel for someone to talk to, and we see such a high demand for single rooms because so many people are on their own. So, I thought, why not do something to help? I was shocked when I heard how many people had applied for a call companion - I care about people, especially older people, and I just wanted to help make a difference.”

Jess completed the training and found the onboarding process for new volunteers very smooth. She now phones her call companion every week and the volunteering opportunity fits perfectly into her life.

Jess said: “My call companion has some health issues; she goes for treatment three times a week and it takes her all day. She has to get a taxi to the appointments, and it’s the only time she gets out most weeks.

“She loves wildlife, and she feeds the birds in her garden. She tells me about her children, and I know a lot about her life. She says she misses her husband, they used to have a barge and she has a scrapbook which she looks at when she’s feeling lonely, to remind her of when he was alive. Phoning her is just part of my weekly routine now and the sense of achievement I get from it is great, it makes me feel happy and content.”