Beaconsfield Together July / August 2020

COMMUNITY
vulnerable people. Every week,
over 300 people benefit from the
kind support of the Buddies.
If you’d like
please cont
919232.
Listening Ear
Better Connected Beaconsfield (BCB)
was founded before the start of the
coronavirus, but had to rethink its activities
to accommodate the pandemic.
It supports (isolating) local residents in a variety
of ways; hundreds of Buddies are helping with
practical matters and the ‘Pop-Up Larder’ to
provide food, and there’s also ‘The Listening
Ear’ for those wanting to talk to somebody in
confidence. Pauline leads this aspect of BCB’s
response to the current situation, so I asked her:
Q: What is The Listening Ear?
A: A network of experienced ‘Listeners’
allocated to anyone who wants someone to
talk to. Maybe they’re lonely even if there are
other people in the household. They don’t want
to burden friends or family with what’s on their
minds. Health or financial issues perhaps, or
they just need someone to listen to them talk
about how life is for them.
Q: What sort of requests do you get?
A: It can be dispiriting to spend a whole day
without any human contact, resulting in worry,
stress or upset. Talking things through helps
to ease the pressure. Some just want one call,
others appreciate knowing that someone will
stay in contact - giving them something to look
forward to. Some want to talk through complex
family issues.
We’re keen that no-one should be put off
asking for a Listener because they don’t feel
‘vulnerable’. We have the scope to help many
more ; so would encourage people to spread
the word to those who haven’t heard about us.
mag layout june.indd 2
Q: You said “no-one should be put off” -
why might some people be reluctant
to call?
A: It might be reluctance to take up time
or resources you think someone else needs
more, or that you expect to be under pressure
because of Covid19. Some people who
might benefit are more used to looking after
other people than looking after themselves.
It doesn’t occur to them to ask for a Listener.
Q: What more can a Listener offer that a
family member or friend cannot?
A: People don’t want to burden friends
or family, or prefer to talk to a stranger in
confidence. That’s when our Listening Ear
can really help. Conversations with a Listener
are confidential and unhurried. Listeners are
used to helping people express things they
might not want to say to anyone else. If
there’s something on your mind, please call
us, that’s why we’re here.
If you want to find out more about our
Listeners, or be allocated one, please call
us confidentially on: 01494 919 232, or visit
www.betterconnectedbeaconsfield.org.uk
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12 Beaconsfield Together is part of Community Together