Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
A programme to combat loneliness over the phone is aiming to double its volunteer numbers, as demand for the service continues to grow.
St John's free Caring Caller service has been running for more than 25 years, and has about 600 trained volunteers.
They make regular phones calls to people who are feeling lonely or socially isolated, offering companionship and support.
Bank worker Carolyn Reeves, who is a volunteer caring caller, said the regular calls mean a lot to people.
"I know my person really enjoys it," she told Checkpoint. "She was actually just saying to me she really looks forwards to my phone calls every week, and I know I do too."
Reeves said it gives them somebody to talk to, and get things off their chest too.
She calls her person once a week at an agreed time, and said conversations can vary, but they usually last for about 15 or 20 minutes.
"We just talk about what's happening with her week, how her family are, what she's got planned, and making sure she's okay.
"Because that's the big thing for me, making sure she's feeling safe, and if she's got any worries or concerns about anything.
"We try not to get too personal about me, we talk about my work a bit as well. She knows my first name, but not my last name or where I live or where I work or anything. She knows I have children."
Reeves said the interview process in order to join the programme was more extensive than she had anticipated.
But they tried to match a person with someone with similar interests, such as gardening or cooking.
Volunteers were taught what they could not say, and who to reach out to if they had concerns for the person, Reeves said.
Reeves said she was "100 percent" certain there were a lot of lonely people out there, and that the programme made a great difference in their lives.
She said 15 minutes went a long way, and anyone interested should read up on the positive impacts the service has on the St John website.
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