How to find a Delegate if you have no close contacts
A Delegate does not have to be a friend or relative. There are good options.
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Y.O.D.O. works best when you name people you trust. If you live alone, are estranged from family, or simply prefer to name someone outside your family, a Delegate does not have to be a friend or relative.
Who can be a Delegate
Anyone you trust to be contacted if you go quiet. They must be 18 or over and must agree to the role. Being a Delegate is always free. A Delegate never sees your Messages.
Options if you have no close contacts
A solicitor
Many solicitors will accept the role of Delegate as part of a wider arrangement such as a will or Lasting Power of Attorney. Ask whether they charge for acting as a point of contact. Some do not. A solicitor may also be registered with Y.O.D.O. as a Special Delegate; this is a separate role and can be used alongside being a Delegate.
A faith leader
Clergy, imams, rabbis, and other faith leaders will often accept this role as part of pastoral care.
A befriending charity
Organisations such as Age UK, Independent Age, and local befriending services match adults with volunteers who build long-term relationships. Once you have a trusted volunteer, you can ask them to serve as a Delegate.
A community or mutual-support organisation
Some housing associations, community cooperatives, and mutual-aid groups offer similar check-in arrangements. If you are already part of one, ask.
If you are based in the EEA
The same options apply with local equivalents. National befriending services exist in most EEA countries (for example, in Greece, Friends of the Elderly Athens; in Germany, Malteser Besuchs- und Begleitungsdienst; in Ireland, ALONE). A solicitor in your country can also act as a Delegate. If you would like help identifying a service in your country, write to info@yodo.ltd.
Writing to someone you want to name
If you want to ask a professional or volunteer to be your Delegate, here is a short template you can adapt.
Dear [Name], I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to act as my Delegate in a service called Y.O.D.O. A Delegate is someone who may be contacted if I stop checking in for a period of time I have chosen. A Delegate does not see any of my private messages. Your role would be to confirm I am well, pause my check-ins if appropriate, or, in the event of my passing, begin the process that allows my private messages to be released to the people I have chosen. I have chosen you because I trust you. Please let me know if you would be willing to take on this role. Thank you, [Your name]
If you are a professional who would like to act as a Special Delegate, use our Special Delegate registration form.
Questions
If you are unsure whether someone would be a suitable Delegate, contact us at info@yodo.ltd and we will help you think it through.