Befriending retired merchant seaman

[Seamans Daughter]

Hi folks, I'm hoping someone can direct me. My dad's mental health is not great. He's struggled to adjust to life after mum's death and has no friends, him and mum lived in their own little bubble so he's very lonely. He isn't a massive social person and won't go to social groups but he thrives on one to one where someone has similar interests. He has lots of family input on weekends when we're off work but he finds the daytimes awful long with no company.

He loves talking about his navy life and I wondered if there is such a thing as a befrienders service for retired merchant seamen. He doesn't have Internet. I'm looking for a service where someone also former navy could sit with him now and then and have a blether, go out for a cuppa etc. I know there is SSAFA for Royal Navy but I don't think they have a merchant navy counterpart?

Any ideas gratefully received.

[Red Lead Ted]

Can i ask where in Scotland he resides, Terry.

[Seamans Daughter]

Can i ask where in Scotland he resides, Terry.

He lives in Moray, in the north east. Appreciate any pointers.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Shipmates Helpline – Invitation to all MNA members

28th March 2020

Dear MNA Shipmates

Shipmates Helpline – Invitation to all MNA members

https://www.mna.org.uk/index.php/who-s-who/53-mna

[Keith at Tregenna]

Worth a call ?

Calls to our Telephone Buddies service increased by a whopping 455% during the pandemic, allowing the Armed Forces Community to stay connected during lockdown. The service is run by amazing volunteers such as 94-year-old Legion branch member, Dennis. He is one of a group of volunteers who has joined our Telephone Buddy scheme to help lift the spirits of isolated and vulnerable people by keeping them connected to their community.

Dennis said: “I’ve been involved with the Legion and the Poppy Appeal for almost 25 years. When I heard about the buddy scheme I realised that I was perhaps one of the lucky ones able to cope with the situation, but there might be people who would benefit from contact with someone with possibly similar lifetime experiences, so I decided to give it a go.”

If you or anyone you know would like to access the telephone buddy scheme, give us a call on 0808 802 8080. ☎️

MN Vets are now included in the Armed Forces covenant.

Worth a call ?

[Graham Payne]

Worth a call ?

Calls to our Telephone Buddies service increased by a whopping 455% during the pandemic, allowing the Armed Forces Community to stay connected during lockdown. The service is run by amazing volunteers such as 94-year-old Legion branch member, Dennis. He is one of a group of volunteers who has joined our Telephone Buddy scheme to help lift the spirits of isolated and vulnerable people by keeping them connected to their community.

Dennis said: “I’ve been involved with the Legion and the Poppy Appeal for almost 25 years. When I heard about the buddy scheme I realised that I was perhaps one of the lucky ones able to cope with the situation, but there might be people who would benefit from contact with someone with possibly similar lifetime experiences, so I decided to give it a go.”

If you or anyone you know would like to access the telephone buddy scheme, give us a call on 0808 802 8080. ☎️

MN Vets are now included in the Armed Forces covenant.

Worth a call ?

Hi could anyone tell me what the Armed Forces covenant is.
Thanks

[Keith at Tregenna]

Some info from 2015:

https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2015/12...nt-for-troops/

K.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Worth a try ? feed back if anyone does may help others.


VIA: Royal British Legion

Calls to the Legion’s Telephone Buddies service have more than quadrupled during the pandemic, allowing the Armed Forces Community to stay connected during lockdown. This has been a lifeline for Armed Forces community members, such as former Reservist Medic and Iraq veteran, Dave Aldridge.

Prior to lockdown, Dave enjoyed social activities arranged by his local Legion branch, including volunteering to help other local veterans.

He said; "When I joined the branch it was a way to meet like-minded people and ensure I was socially active. I had been dealing with some mental health issues and just to meet up for a chat and a drink with other members was a real help in my recovery.

During lockdown the branch members have really rallied round and we all ensure that we keep in contact via the Telephone Buddy service.

I've really missed the branch activities, so knowing that there is someone at the end of the phone once or twice a week to have a chat makes a real difference. It's great to have a sense of connection and touch base with another member, I think at both ends of the phone there is a real benefit to simply having chat and taking time out to check in with each other."

If you or anyone you know would like to access the telephone buddy scheme, give us a call on 0808 802 8080. ☎️

.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Touch wood that Seamans Daughter will give some feed back to the above or
pos we may look further to assist.

K.

[Seamans Daughter]

Thank you all so very much. We'll contact the numbers given. We've also managed to find a service called seafarers link. It's run by silverline. An operator will ring my Dad once a week and connect him to a group call where he can chat to other retired seafarers who are also experiencing isolation. It supports any seafarer from MN to RN to fishermen.