More Than Befriending: A Lifelong Friendship through CSRF
Here at the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF), we put friendship first. Just ask Louise and Olive.
Today, after many years of sharing calls and greeting cards, postcards and gifts, volunteer befriender Louise and retired civil servant Olive aren’t only friends – they’re more like family.
We spoke to Louise to find out more about volunteering for the CSRF and conversations with Olive.
How did you come to work in the civil service?
All my family have worked here – my mum, my sister. There’s a really big office where I grew up, so it was just natural that you went into it when you left college.
I’ve been working here since 1987, for all my working life. Now I’m in the employment department.
How did you get involved with the CSRF?
We have an initiative at the DWP called ‘Community 10,000’ where you have so many days a year to volunteer. It’s lovely that we’re so encouraged to help people in the community. I found out about the CSRF on there, and when the opportunity came up to talk to someone, I thought ‘well, they’re one of us’. It’s sort of like when you’re in the forces, you want to help older civil servants.
Why did you decide to volunteer?
I don’t know really. My kids were a bit older, I wanted to do something that’s not too taxing. I just thought being friendly isn’t work, is it? It’s not staring at a computer, it’s not hard. So I thought I’d give it a go.
How long have you been matched with Olive?
I think it’s been seven years now. I ring Olive on Sundays, or whenever suits us that week. I’ve also met her twice in London – we organised that off our own backs!
What did Olive do for the civil service?
At one time she was in the Home Office in London, but she’s done all kinds of things. I think that’s where she retired from. But before that she was at The Savoy on reception, doing cake decoration and all sorts.
What do you talk about?
I find her life fascinating. Olive’s from a different walk of life to me. She came over to Britain in the 70s with her family and met her husband here. So she’s told me lots of stories. She thought that I would be retired, so she was so made up to find out I’m still in work. She asks what I’m up to in the week, and I ask about her life.
Since I’ve known Olive, she’s lost her husband and her son, and I’ve welcomed two grandchildren. We’ve been there for each other through a lot. I don’t even think of her through work anymore, she’s just my friend.
It’s funny because she’s called Olive, but she said “when you’re my friend you can call me Livvy”. And by the time we had our third conversation, she said “right, you can call me Livvy now”. We send each other gifts at Christmas.
What do you value most about your befriending calls?
Friendship. I didn’t know this person, and she never knew me. Our paths would have never crossed if it wasn’t for the CSRF.
Self-achievement too, knowing I can make friends through something like this and keep it going for so long.
Why should civil servants support the CSRF charity?
I’d say to anyone reading this, it’s not just for the retired people, but for you too. It’s for the feel-good factor – the smile factor.