A NEW buddy system aimed at helping people with low confidence is being launched in Ferndown.

Ferndown Community Connectors is being led by Poole-based community outreach programme PramaLIFE.

Volunteer 'connectors' will be partnered up with people in the town who need company to help them complete simple tasks or visit new groups and societies.

Lynn Kenchington, community development worker for isolation and loneliness at Dorset County Council, is backing the scheme.

She said: “All our volunteers will be trained and then they will be partnered with people in the community who they can help.

“Often it is very simple things, like just going for a coffee with someone or walking the dog with them.

“People can become lonely and anxious about doing things and they just need a bit of help to get their confidence.

“If someone has been bereaved or suddenly is unable to drive they might need a bit of help to start new things or even to catch the bus.

“It is not a long-term scheme, but merely helps people gain enough confidence for them to join a group or start doing something they’ve never done before or have got out of the habit of doing.”

A steering committee set up to coordinate the project includes representatives of counselling services, churches and GP practices.

Emma Regan of Douch Family Funeral Directors, is a member of the working group and said she hoped it would change people's lives.

“Of course we deal with the bereaved on a daily basis and this scheme will make a lot of difference," she said.

“So often we want to be able to help people more after dealing with a funeral and this will allow that to happen.

“Spending a bit of time with someone in order to hold their hand and improve their confidence is extremely simple but can change someone’s life.”

Volunteers are being sought to join the project. Anyone interested should contact Carol Davies at PramaLIFE by calling 07809 224000 or emailing carol.davies@pramacare.co.uk