‘At last I was able to put a face to the caller who has become a genuine friend’
Rosemary Hope and Rohan Young pictured with Susanna Reid on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.(Image: Reengage UK/ITV)
A Manchester volunteer who has changed the life of a lonely grandmother through weekly phone calls had a surprise meeting with her on ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme this morning (8 December).
Rohan Young has been in contact with 83-year-old Rosemary Hope for over a year but they had never met in person until today.
Rosemary has been on her own since husband Trevor died ten years ago. Although she has a devoted family, she sometimes feels alone and isolated.
However, the calls from 47-year-old Rohan, who volunteers for charity, Re-engage, have given her a new lease of life.
As she explained this to presenters, Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Rohan suddenly appeared, clutching a bunch of flowers and gave her a big hug.
83-year-old Rosemary Hope.(Image: Reengage UK)
“It was a wonderful surprise,” said Rosemary, who lives in Gloucester. “Rohan is such a lovely man. He’s always happy and gives me such a lift. At last I was able to put a face to the caller who has become a genuine friend.
“Before I started receiving the calls from Rohan I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do something like a TV interview but now it feels fine,” she added. “He’s had a big impact on my life. After my husband died I became a little isolated but now I look forward to going out.”
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Presenter Richard Madeley said: “I love this idea because it’s so simple. Just a phone call.”
Rohan, who has been a Call Companion for Re-engage – an organisation which fights to reduce loneliness among those aged 75 and over – for 15 months, said: “It was absolutely gorgeous to meet Rosemary. We get on so well and are able to discuss just about anything. We both really look forward to the calls.”
Re-engage is one of the charities being promoted on GMB’s 1Million Minutes appeal throughout December, encouraging people to volunteer for 60 minutes a week for a year to help end loneliness.
The charity runs nationwide call befriending services as well as free monthly tea parties and activity groups in Manchester.
Re-engage volunteer, Rohan Young.(Image: Reengage UK)
Since signing up to the Call Companion service Rosemary has now joined a Re-engage tea party group, even encouraging one of her friends to join.
“It’s a fabulous charity and I hope this appeal results in many volunteers coming forward,” said Rosemary. “It’s such a good cause.”
Rohan, who lives in Whitelow Road and also makes weekly calls to two other older people on behalf of Re-engage, said: “I would encourage anyone to join-up and volunteer. It’s such a great feeling that you’re helping someone.”
If you’d like to volunteer for Re-engage, you can do so here.