PossAbilities Homeshare interviewed by Canadian news channel

Photo: CBC/Radio-Canada

Doreen Fairclough and Ruth Bamber being interviewed on the Canadian evening news

Having won the funding from The Big Lottery to deliver Homeshare, Heywood-based Social Enterprise, PossAbilites was contacted to appear live on Canadian evening news.

Doreen Fairclough, 79, from Heywood, who was the first householder to be helped by PossAbilites, spoke about her experience live on Canadian television.

When asked why did she decided to Homeshare, Doreen said: “I was on my own, I did not like it, and now that I have got Lucile I have someone to talk to, share meals with and someone to go out with. We go shopping, to the cinema, to a pantomime at Christmas and to the market.”

Ruth Bamber, development manager, told CBC (the Canadian news channel) that the aim is to find more individuals, who, like Doreen, can go weeks at a time without engaging with family members or friends, or may simply have no family. They are safely matched with a sharer who can live with them and who will provide 10 hours per week of social support, such as companionship, shopping or cooking.

Ms Bamber said: "Homesharers and householders can be of any age and recognising the scale and effect of loneliness is vital."