Social visits: new format coming soon

We are excited to announce changes to our current social visit scheme. As our social visits have grown in popularity, we have listened to feedback from the GoodGym community and are making some changes to the current provision and are re-introducing long-term pairings.

What is a Social Visit?

Social visits are a 30-60 minute visit to an older person’s home, purely for friendly conversation to ease loneliness. No additional tasks will be performed during these visits.

The NEW social visits format.

In the new format, GoodGymers will be able to view older people in their area who would like a visit . GoodGymers can then sign up for a first ‘test’ visit to meet them.

If the test visit goes well, the GoodGymer and the older person will have the option to create a ‘pairing’; however, if either of them decide not to meet again, there is no obligation to do so. In such a case, a pairing will not be created and the listing will stay live on our website for 3 months for another GoodGymer to sign up to if they wish.

Pairings require a minimum of 6 months commitment. If the friendship is still going well after 6 months, they can continue for as long as both parties wish to. The older person will be referred to as a coach once the pairing has been confirmed.

Why do you call the older person a coach?

We call the older person a ‘coach’ because visits to them will motivate GoodGymers to either run, walk or cycle to meet them at their home. This will improve their fitness and health, enabling the older person to help motivate and encourage them to stick to a regular fitness routine. It also makes the older person feel as though they are part of a service, rather than the recipient of a service, and therefore encourages a more equal and mutual relationship.

"She's one of the family now, she's fantastic. We get on fabulous. She's just a lovely woman. She's there when I'm feeling down and she's always bouncy and she brings a glimmer light to my life. She's very considerate and we have a good talk- put the world right. She's an asset to GoodGym. I've got someone there for me, I've had a troubled past and she makes life worth living." (Coach feedback)

How do I get involved?

Before you can sign up you’ll need to be social visit verified. This includes:

• Completing a DBS Check.
• Reading our online social visits training.
• Providing 2 character references.
• A short online call with an operations support team member.

You can complete the verification process here.

When will this start?

We hope to be ready to start this scheme early April and referrers, GoodGymers and beneficiaries involved in the start phase will be contacted by us directly. Where is this offer available? Currently social visits are happening in:

• Kingston upon Thames
• York
• Lewisham
• Southwark
• Portsmouth
• Bromley
• Luton
• Birmingham
• Windsor and Maidenhead

We plan to add more areas in the near future.

More questions?

Click here to see our FAQs.