Orangeline volunteer recognised by Redbridge Healthwatch

Lily Russell is a volunteer with Saint Francis Hospice’s OrangeLine service - a helpline for people who are lonely, isolated or bereaved. She has been recognised for providing outstanding support to people who have been bereaved, in a recent nomination for the Redbridge Healthwatch 'Highlighting Heroes' initiative.

I started volunteering with OrangeLine in November 2020 after having a brain tumour and being medically retired.

I wanted to give back. I attend a brain tumour support group and through links with the group and Saint Francis Hospice, I became a proud volunteer for OrangeLine. I was so pleased to be nominated for the Healthwatch Award. I know I am making a difference to our clients. We may be the only voice that a client hears on a weekly or fortnightly basis and if I can be that voice then it makes it all worthwhile.

There are so many people who are lonely and isolated and in need of support. OrangeLine also run bereavement support groups called Friendly Faces on a weekly basis in cafes in Redbridge, Romford and Brentwood.

Setting up a bereavement support group in Redbridge

I have been facilitating the Redbridge group with fellow OrangeLine volunteer Gina Cooper since May 2022. We found that clients were able to venture to The Barrel Boulangerie in Wanstead on a Thursday from 1-3pm. It had good transport links and a car park near Wanstead High Street.  The café is also opposite the Saint Francis Hospice charity shop.

We have between 4-6 clients who attend each week and they are very grateful for Friendly Faces. They find they can open up and talk about things they cannot tell their families or friends as they often feel that they might be a burden.

A client recently said that whilst he had been on holiday, he wanted to tell his late wife about it. I suggested that when he feels like this, he could write it down. He was grateful as he now also does this when family members ask him how he is feeling.