Befriending

We offer befriending for older people who would like a friendly chat and a bit of company

We provide a free befriending service to older people across Berkshire. Our team of dedicated and caring volunteers can either visit clients in their own homes (available in Reading, Bracknell and West Berkshire), or speak to them on the phone (Berkshire-wide) to provide companionship and friendly conversation.

Telephone befriending is useful for those who would like to talk to someone on a regular basis, without having someone visit them at home.

How does it work?

▪ All our volunteers are checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service to verify their suitability as a befriending volunteer
▪ Our Befriending Coordinator visits you to find out more about your interests, needs, and expectations
▪ We carefully match a volunteer with your needs and interests
▪ Our coordinator will visit you again to introduce you to your carefully matched volunteer
▪ We help you and the volunteer to determine the frequency of visits. These can be weekly, fortnightly, or monthly
▪ We hope it will be a lasting relationship that may continue for many months or even years. Because it's long-term, it may take at least a month to match the right volunteer with you: we want to get it right!
▪ We ask the volunteer to regularly let the Coordinator know how you are; we keep that information very secure and do not share it outside of Age UK Berkshire
▪ Your regular volunteer will be also be able to keep you informed about any of our other services, events and activities that may be of interest to you, if you wish

Who is suitable for the service?

The service is suitable for any older person who would like some regular company - either in person or by phone.

Our telephone befriending service covers the whole of Berkshire.

Our face-to-face befriending service is available in Reading, Bracknell and West Berkshire. If you would like to meet in person but live outside these areas, we may know of another local group or charity who can help.

I'd like to get involved with the befriending service as a volunteer

We are always looking for new volunteers, so if you'd like to volunteer some of your time to get to know an older person in Berkshire, please get in touch.

In return for your time, we will provide full training. You'll get some great experience, which will look good on your CV, and will build a lasting relationship, which we hope will be mutually beneficial and enjoyable for you, and the older person you're matched with.