A Lifeline of Friendship with CSRF
Housebound and with no access to the internet, retired civil servant Valerie relies on a landline and letterbox to stay connected to the outside world. She’s had a pen pal with the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF) for the past year, and now has fortnightly calls with Alex to look forward to. We spoke to Valerie to find out more about how the charity has changed her life.
What do you do for the civil service?
I worked with the tax people: tax collectors at Inland Revenue. I did other jobs too before that, in hospitals, charities and education. I retired from the civil service 26 years ago now. You don’t realize how much being at work means until you’ve left.
How did you hear about the CSRF?
A friend of mine retired from the civil service and said he was going to the activity groups. I knew other people who went too, so I joined that.
Do you enjoy your fortnightly phone calls?
Yes, very much. And I have a historian as a pen pal – history’s my subject – so that’s been a really nice match. I’m used to writing more than telephoning, but it’s lovely to receive a phone call – as long as it’s not from British Gas.
What’s it like to form a friendship with someone from a different generation?
It’s a different world, and it’s a good world because it’s young. These young chaps take the time to talk to me. I talk about the war, I don’t know if it’s interesting or not! For me, they’re the same age that any grandchildren would have been. Other people talk about their children and grandchildren, and that seems to fill their life. So if, like me, you don’t have those relationships, there’s a gap. I get grown up grandchildren, just like that!
What do you value most from the befriending service?
When you reach a certain age, it’s hard for you to get outside. It’s very important to have contact with people outside. Talking to these volunteers brings life into your life.
Would you recommend the experience to other civil servants?
Absolutely. Whether you’re writing or speaking on the telephone, having regular contact is very rewarding. It’s a very long day when you’re by yourself. Very pleasantly, having a phone or letter buddy fills your time in the day, when otherwise you wouldn’t see or hear from anyone. They become like family.