Check in and Chat

Keeping in touch with regular conversation

Our Check in and Chat service provides retired railway employees with the opportunity to have a weekly chat to feel connected and share the joy of a good conversation. If you or someone you know is feeling isolated or missing regular conversations, our free telephone service may be right for you.

Once a week, you will receive a phone call from a friendly volunteer who currently works in rail. During this call, you are free to chat about anything that interests you, whether it be rail related or not.

Bill, a retired railway worker, has been having weekly calls with a volunteer for 3 months. He said:

I’m finding it really helpful. I sometimes go a long time without anyone to talk to and it’s very hard. I’m 94 and meeting new people is difficult, so check in and chat in my own home with a lovely lady to talk to is fantastic. I still manage to get to town to run my errands, although at my age I don’t run! But the casual conversations I have with shop keepers are nothing like the calls, which are much more personal and involved.

To register your interest in a weekly check in and chat call, please email us or give us a call on 03452 412 885.

Please note that calls with our staff may be recorded for training and quality purposes. For more information regarding how we handle your data please read our Privacy Policy.

Find out more about becoming a Check in and Chat volunteer.

I’m finding it really helpful. I sometimes go a long time without anyone to talk to and it’s very hard. I’m 94 and meeting new people is difficult, so check in and chat in my own home with a lovely lady to talk to is fantastic. I still manage to get to town to run my errands, although at my age I don’t run! But the casual conversations I have with shop keepers are nothing like the calls, which are much more personal and involved.

When my vision declined I was struggling to complete simple tasks on my own, and felt incredibly isolated from the outside world. Without RBF I never would have been able to afford my new glasses, which have improved my quality of life immensely. I am so very grateful.