What You'll Do:
- As we get older, it’s easy to become isolated and lonely as our opportunities for social activities reduce. Some older people see no-one for days at a time. A regular weekly visit or phone call from a local volunteer befriender can brighten someone's day, help improve their mental health and often results in friendship.
- We carefully match befrienders with an older person who we think you’ll get on with – someone who may have a shared interest or something else in common with you.
- You then arrange to meet or speak at a time that works for you both, and we keep in touch to make sure things are going well. We offer in-person befriending with home visits (when we are able to), as well as telephone befriending.
Why You'll Love It:
- Would you like to spend an hour or two each week taking someone out for a while, watching a film, playing Scrabble – or simply having a chat over a cup of tea?.
- As a Volunteer Befriender, you'll be helping to reduce someone's feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can bring about a big increase in their mental and physical health, and overall quality of life.
- You will get a lot in return: a feeling of being connected to your community, the fun of getting to know someone you might not otherwise meet, and even a new friendship.
- Some of our befriendees may have some degree of dementia, so we will train you to feel confident in providing support to someone with needs of this kind.
Similar Opportunities
Become a STEM Ambassador
London STEM Ambassador Hub
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Become a STEM Ambassador
Volunteering
Ambassador
Education
If you are studying or researching a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Maths (STEM) related subject and want to volunteer and share your knowledge and experience with young people, you could become a STEM Ambassador.
Volunteer as an English or Maths tutor
Team Up for Social Mobility
Min. 10 Weeks Minimum weeks
Volunteer as an English or Maths tutor
Volunteering
Volunteer
Education, Social Mobility, Young People
Team Up is looking for dynamic volunteer tutors to help transform the future prospects of underperforming pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
University Student Mentoring
IntoUniversity
Min. 12 Weeks Minimum weeks
University Student Mentoring
Volunteering
Mentor
Education, Social Mobility, Young People
Do you want to make a real difference to a young person's life? If you are a current university student of any subject (or have graduated within the last 2 years), this opportunity could be for you!
