PLUS, which stands for People Like Us, is a service designed to combat loneliness and isolation in Worcestershire. It offers one to one support to anyone over the age of 18 who feels alone and disconnected from their community. The service is proudly delivered by ourselves, Onside Independent Advocacy and supported by Simply Limitless of Kidderminster and The Worcester Community Trust based in Worcester City Centre.

This campaign will help some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged adults in Worcestershire, who are digitally disconnected, get online so they can socialise and enjoy greater independence. Inspired by the difficulties faced by the county's residents during lockdown, it offers Worcestershires lonely, isolated and vulnerable a much-needed lifeline over the harsh winter months. The scheme introduces a private Safe Place Group on Facebook, which will be used to host online coffee mornings, supervised online video chat using Facebook Rooms and even health and wellbeing activities delivered by local experts.

TechTober2020 is being used to boost the start of The Together Campaign to raise funds for much-needed PLUS Tech Packs which will each include a communication device, charger and user guide. TechTober2020 has already been promised 20 PLUS Tech Packs by official sponsor OCM Business Systems Ltd of Pershore.

Now, the search is on for other local businesses willing to lend their support by sponsoring more PLUS Tech Packs.

We are extremely grateful to the public for any contribution towards this campaign. Your donations will be used to make someone in Worcestershire who is feeling completely alone and isolated, feel more connected and engaged with the community that surrounds them.

An existing PLUS member who is already benefiting from the support from PLUS face to face and via our Safe Place Group comments "Chatting online makes me happy and cheers me up when I feel low. Knowing that people are around that care helps me tackle my day. I have made so many friends whilst being supported by PLUS"

PLUS supporters can follow the campaigns progress on social media using the following hashtags: #OnThePlusSide #TheTogetherCampaign

Thank you for visiting our page and supporting PLUS.

The PLUS Team