Tranmere Rovers in the Community's Tackling Loneliness Together has been helping people throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, including TRFC supporters Billy and Margi.
Billy has dementia, and is cared for by his wife Margi on a daily basis and the staff at Tranmere Rovers in the Community have kept in regular contact with the pair during lockdown.
The ‘Tackling Loneliness Together’ project is aimed at helping those Over 70, who are at risk of suffering from loneliness due to COVID-19 and to provide targeted and effective relief for them. We hope to build relationships with those affected in Wirral so they feel confident integrating back into the community and continue our relationship with them going forward.
Speaking about the support her and Billy received from the Club's official charity, Margi said: "We both get so much out of our connection and involvement with Tranmere Rovers. The weekly support groups are great and the joy on Billy's face when he joins in, he is always laughing.
"I enjoy mixing with likeminded people who are in similar situations and making new friends. We can also lean on the experience of people within the group who are going through similar circumstances.
"It has been my salvation as many of our friends have drifted away and at times, we have felt quite isolated. I can't praise the staff enough for their immense kindness and understanding. They are also available to talk to, and we really do have a good time and let ourselves go at the dementia group. We travel 15 miles each way to get here, and it is five stars, we love it."
Steve Williams from Tranmere Rovers in the Community added: "Billy is a former fireman and loved playing golf and football. He was very active, although now not as much it is great to see him coming along every week to us and still taking part in our group sessions"
"We first went to visit Margi and Billy just before lockdown in March and sat in their back garden thinking everything would be back to normal quite soon and it is obviously not worked out like that.
"We have kept in touch with them both during 2020 as part of our loneliness programme by regular phone calls, quizzes, workbooks, email and text messages.
"Eventually when the restrictions lifted, we invited them to attend our dementia sessions based at the Club on a weekly basis. They both get so much out of it and it is great to see."
To find out more about both programmes, please get in touch now by emailing stevew@tranmererovers.co.uk.