Ready Friends Review

VCS survey about reducing loneliness and social isolation in Reading

Ready Friends is 6 years old this year, and was born out of the need to support local community action on loneliness and social isolation.

The voluntary and community sector (VCS) is central to reducing loneliness in Reading and provides an enormous range of opportunities for people to be socially connected and participate in activities that are just right for them. Our local VCS also supports thousands of volunteers that help reduce loneliness - such as befrienders, buddies, in lunch clubs or at other community social events.

As we emerge from the pandemic, it's time to look at the current needs of people facing loneliness in Reading and how Ready Friends supports the local VCS to respond to that need. This may mean prioritising specific communities and actions, and parking activities that Ready Friends has traditionally delivered.

Your views, thoughts and ideas will be very helpful and much-appreciated.

Question Title

* 1. Have you been involved in Ready Friends activity in the past 3 years? Please tick all relevant boxes

Attending Befriending Forums

Attending Small Groups Learn and Share Network events

Attending meet-the-funder events

Receiving Ready Friends News

One-to-one meetings and/or correspondence with Rhiannon Stocking-Williams

Friendship Volunteering Project events

Receiving Thank You cards for volunteers during National Befriending Week

Providing photos and content for Loneliness Awareness Week social media campaign

Other - please write in the box

Question Title

* 2. As we emerge from the pandemic, what are the most pressing needs of local people facing loneliness?
0 = little or no need 5 = high need

	0	1	2	3	4	5
Accurate information about VCS services and activities in Reading.	Accurate information about VCS services and activities in Reading. 0	Accurate information about VCS services and activities in Reading. 1	Accurate information about VCS services and activities in Reading. 2	Accurate information about VCS services and activities in Reading. 3	Accurate information about VCS services and activities in Reading. 4	Accurate information about VCS services and activities in Reading. 5
Confidence to access and participate in VCS services and activities in Reading.	Confidence to access and participate in VCS services and activities in Reading. 0	Confidence to access and participate in VCS services and activities in Reading. 1	Confidence to access and participate in VCS services and activities in Reading. 2	Confidence to access and participate in VCS services and activities in Reading. 3	Confidence to access and participate in VCS services and activities in Reading. 4	Confidence to access and participate in VCS services and activities in Reading. 5
Someone to go with.	Someone to go with. 0	Someone to go with. 1	Someone to go with. 2	Someone to go with. 3	Someone to go with. 4	Someone to go with. 5
Translations and interpreting support.	Translations and interpreting support. 0	Translations and interpreting support. 1	Translations and interpreting support. 2	Translations and interpreting support. 3	Translations and interpreting support. 4	Translations and interpreting support. 5
Ease of travelling to and from VCS services and activities in Reading.	Ease of travelling to and from VCS services and activities in Reading. 0	Ease of travelling to and from VCS services and activities in Reading. 1	Ease of travelling to and from VCS services and activities in Reading. 2	Ease of travelling to and from VCS services and activities in Reading. 3	Ease of travelling to and from VCS services and activities in Reading. 4	Ease of travelling to and from VCS services and activities in Reading. 5
Cost of participating in VCS services and activities in Reading.	Cost of participating in VCS services and activities in Reading. 0	Cost of participating in VCS services and activities in Reading. 1	Cost of participating in VCS services and activities in Reading. 2	Cost of participating in VCS services and activities in Reading. 3	Cost of participating in VCS services and activities in Reading. 4	Cost of participating in VCS services and activities in Reading. 5
Respite care to enable them to have a break from the person they care for.	Respite care to enable them to have a break from the person they care for. 0	Respite care to enable them to have a break from the person they care for. 1	Respite care to enable them to have a break from the person they care for. 2	Respite care to enable them to have a break from the person they care for. 3	Respite care to enable them to have a break from the person they care for. 4	Respite care to enable them to have a break from the person they care for. 5

Other - please write in this box.

Question Title

* 3. What do we need more of in Reading’s VCS to reduce loneliness?
0 = little or no need 5 = greatest need

	0	1	2	3	4	5
Befriending services	Befriending services 0	Befriending services 1	Befriending services 2	Befriending services 3	Befriending services 4	Befriending services 5
Volunteers to take people to activities from home and back again	Volunteers to take people to activities from home and back again 0	Volunteers to take people to activities from home and back again 1	Volunteers to take people to activities from home and back again 2	Volunteers to take people to activities from home and back again 3	Volunteers to take people to activities from home and back again 4	Volunteers to take people to activities from home and back again 5
Befrienders in enhanced role - shopping, gardening, basic DIY	Befrienders in enhanced role - shopping, gardening, basic DIY 0	Befrienders in enhanced role - shopping, gardening, basic DIY 1	Befrienders in enhanced role - shopping, gardening, basic DIY 2	Befrienders in enhanced role - shopping, gardening, basic DIY 3	Befrienders in enhanced role - shopping, gardening, basic DIY 4	Befrienders in enhanced role - shopping, gardening, basic DIY 5
Lunch or social clubs	Lunch or social clubs 0	Lunch or social clubs 1	Lunch or social clubs 2	Lunch or social clubs 3	Lunch or social clubs 4	Lunch or social clubs 5
Neighbourhood/street-based activity	Neighbourhood/street-based activity 0	Neighbourhood/street-based activity 1	Neighbourhood/street-based activity 2	Neighbourhood/street-based activity 3	Neighbourhood/street-based activity 4	Neighbourhood/street-based activity 5
Community events and festivals	Community events and festivals 0	Community events and festivals 1	Community events and festivals 2	Community events and festivals 3	Community events and festivals 4	Community events and festivals 5
Community transport	Community transport 0	Community transport 1	Community transport 2	Community transport 3	Community transport 4	Community transport 5
Affordable translation and interpreting services	Affordable translation and interpreting services 0	Affordable translation and interpreting services 1	Affordable translation and interpreting services 2	Affordable translation and interpreting services 3	Affordable translation and interpreting services 4	Affordable translation and interpreting services 5
Public transport confidence sessions	Public transport confidence sessions 0	Public transport confidence sessions 1	Public transport confidence sessions 2	Public transport confidence sessions 3	Public transport confidence sessions 4	Public transport confidence sessions 5
Training for new volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below)	Training for new volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 0	Training for new volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 1	Training for new volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 2	Training for new volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 3	Training for new volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 4	Training for new volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 5
Befriending or buddying for specific communities (please tell us which communities in the Other box below)	Befriending or buddying for specific communities (please tell us which communities in the Other box below) 0	Befriending or buddying for specific communities (please tell us which communities in the Other box below) 1	Befriending or buddying for specific communities (please tell us which communities in the Other box below) 2	Befriending or buddying for specific communities (please tell us which communities in the Other box below) 3	Befriending or buddying for specific communities (please tell us which communities in the Other box below) 4	Befriending or buddying for specific communities (please tell us which communities in the Other box below) 5

Other - please write in this box

Question Title

* 4. How can Ready Friends best support your organisation to fill the gaps and build capacity?
0 = little or no need 5 = greatest need

	0	1	2	3	4	5
Volunteer recruitment	Volunteer recruitment 0	Volunteer recruitment 1	Volunteer recruitment 2	Volunteer recruitment 3	Volunteer recruitment 4	Volunteer recruitment 5
Training for staff or volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below)	Training for staff or volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 0	Training for staff or volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 1	Training for staff or volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 2	Training for staff or volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 3	Training for staff or volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 4	Training for staff or volunteers (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 5
Networking events	Networking events 0	Networking events 1	Networking events 2	Networking events 3	Networking events 4	Networking events 5
Up to date news and information	Up to date news and information 0	Up to date news and information 1	Up to date news and information 2	Up to date news and information 3	Up to date news and information 4	Up to date news and information 5
Theme-specific research and information (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below)	Theme-specific research and information (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 0	Theme-specific research and information (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 1	Theme-specific research and information (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 2	Theme-specific research and information (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 3	Theme-specific research and information (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 4	Theme-specific research and information (please tell us which subject areas in the Other box below) 5
Affordable translation and interpreting services	Affordable translation and interpreting services 0	Affordable translation and interpreting services 1	Affordable translation and interpreting services 2	Affordable translation and interpreting services 3	Affordable translation and interpreting services 4	Affordable translation and interpreting services 5
Loneliness awareness campaigns	Loneliness awareness campaigns 0	Loneliness awareness campaigns 1	Loneliness awareness campaigns 2	Loneliness awareness campaigns 3	Loneliness awareness campaigns 4	Loneliness awareness campaigns 5
Sounding board for project ideas	Sounding board for project ideas 0	Sounding board for project ideas 1	Sounding board for project ideas 2	Sounding board for project ideas 3	Sounding board for project ideas 4	Sounding board for project ideas 5
Developing / facilitating partnerships	Developing / facilitating partnerships 0	Developing / facilitating partnerships 1	Developing / facilitating partnerships 2	Developing / facilitating partnerships 3	Developing / facilitating partnerships 4	Developing / facilitating partnerships 5
Funding support	Funding support 0	Funding support 1	Funding support 2	Funding support 3	Funding support 4	Funding support 5

Other please write in this box

Ready Friends Review

VCS survey about reducing loneliness and social isolation in Reading

Question Title

Question Title

* 1. Have you been involved in Ready Friends activity in the past 3 years? Please tick all relevant boxes

Question Title

* 2. As we emerge from the pandemic, what are the most pressing needs of local people facing loneliness? 0 = little or no need 5 = high need

Question Title

* 3. What do we need more of in Reading’s VCS to reduce loneliness? 0 = little or no need 5 = greatest need

Question Title

* 4. How can Ready Friends best support your organisation to fill the gaps and build capacity? 0 = little or no need 5 = greatest need

Question Title

* 5. What are the clear priority actions for Ready Friends over the next 12 months?

* 2. As we emerge from the pandemic, what are the most pressing needs of local people facing loneliness?
0 = little or no need 5 = high need

* 3. What do we need more of in Reading’s VCS to reduce loneliness?
0 = little or no need 5 = greatest need

* 4. How can Ready Friends best support your organisation to fill the gaps and build capacity?
0 = little or no need 5 = greatest need