Elder Abuse Recovery Service (Fife)

Elder Abuse Recovery Service (Fife)

Our Recovery Service is an innovative means of supporting older people to recover from harmful experiences, and develop the skills and confidence to regain independence and stay safe in the future. The service is provided by trained local volunteers, who support older people in their own home or in a neutral environment of their choosing. At the outset, the older person considers what they would like to get out of the service, and with the support of their volunteer, will identify a series of individual goals to work towards.

While the service includes an element of befriending, it goes much further by focussing on recovery, building resilience, and enabling older people to regain their confidence and independence, and re-integrate into their local community.  Empowerment is at the heart of the project, and our volunteers work with the older person to support and encourage them to make decisions and take actions themselves.

How can I get support?

If you’d like to find out about the project in Fife, please contact:

Colin Scott

Community Response Coordinator (Scotland):

Tel.  0749 632 3801

E-mail: colinscott@wearehourglass.org

Would you like to volunteer with us?

Hourglass are enhancing our community-led services, and we’re therefore looking for volunteers to deliver frontline support to older people. Our volunteers provide a range of support to help those who have experienced abuse or exploitation, as well as any older person who may be at risk. You’ll provide immediate advice and support to older people and those concerned about them, as well proactively helping keep older people safe from harm.  During the lockdown, our volunteers are continuing to provide support to older people remotely, but we will resume in-person support when possible.

We are developing a range of services and activities to promote safer ageing and stop abuse, incorporating prevention, recovery and resilience, including interest-based groups, social events, one-to-one support, and more.  Volunteering roles include:

• assisting with/hosting coffee mornings or social events

• facilitating interest groups (e.g. crafts, photography, story-telling, local history, etc)

• Helpline volunteers

• raising awareness of the work of Hourglass & issues relating to safer ageing and the abuse of older people

• providing one-to-one support to an older person in their own home, a community setting or over the phone

• hosting information stands or pop-up clinics at community venues and events

We are looking for people who are passionate about stopping abuse and empowering older people to live well and age safely; who understand the experience of and issues affecting older people; who can demonstrate empathy, patience, sensitivity and resilience; and who can listen and support non-judgementally.

If you match this description, and are over 18 years of age, and can commit to at least an hour a week, we’d love to hear from you. 

If you'd like to join our team of volunteers, you can download the: 

• role descriptions 

• application form

For more information about any of these roles, please contact Colin Scott (Community Response Co-ordinator):

Tel.  0749 632 3801

E-mail: colinscott@wearehourglass.org