Laughter, connection, value and friendship all play a vital role in our well-being. Meaningful connection and community help our sense of belonging and purpose into later life.

Caraway aims to facilitate this for older people across Southampton. Founded in 2018 we have been growing a dedicated team of Chaplains and volunteers who come alongside older people and help them to navigate the experiences and changes later life brings.

We offer Chaplaincy Services and Dementia Services and take referrals for these through our website – please explore to find out more about what we do and activities near you.

Whether through a home visit, a telephone call, or at a local community group or Care Home – we aim to:

• Combat loneliness
• Create community
• Celebrate life

Our Team

Meet our wonderful team of staff and volunteers.

Team

I wanted to say thank you on behalf of our care home for the warm welcome and hospitality you showed us during the Harvest Festival service this morning. Our residents truly enjoyed being a part of the celebration, and it meant a great deal to them to join in the service.

Kiya – Care Home Service

"I have just received your VA@Home after a friend recommended it for me. After reading just a couple of pages I know I will enjoy it. It is really lovely, thank you."

On receipt of Vintage Adventure at Home

Why do you come as a volunteer to help with events like Vintage Adventure in church? …Well, as I’m getting older, I realise that for an awful lot of the elderly, they’ve not got very long left to get to know the lord So I think this generation is the most important ministry. If you’re in with students and you mess it up, they’ve got a whole lifetime when they can met somebody who will correct it. We haven’t got that luxury so this is a very important ministry and I just want to do my little bit.

Rob Childs

As always it’s difficult to give my favourite part of the day…. Food which someone else has prepared, Music from little children and the Seated Dancing are my top three I think. Just being with other people. An excellent day!!

Holiday at Home Guest – 2024

You do see your friends and neighbours, all being brought in. It’s a relaxed atmosphere . It means you do feel included in the church family. We’re a very close family and have friends of friends of friends, but the young people, they don’t have anybody . It continued church as I haven’t been so well lately after a fall. My balance is poor and my voice isn’t what it used to be, and I love to sing. I always knew when it was time to get up as I could hear Grandma in the kitchen, she sang.

Liz’s Mum