Befriending volunteers needed
As a befriender you could provide company for a lonely older person in the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales areas.
What do befrienders do?
It's a terrible thing to be lonely. Did you know that 1.2 million older people are chronically lonely? You can do something to help by becoming a befriender with Age UK Derby and Derbyshire.
Befrienders get matched with an older person in the community. They visit them or call them on a regular basis to provide companionship.
A befriending visit gives an isolated person an opportunity to have a chat, express worries or concerns, share a joke, or reminisce with someone who is happy to listen and talk.
What you will get out of it
- It's a great way to make a real difference to someone's life
- You'll be giving something to your community
- You get to be part of Age UK Derby and Derbyshire's volunteer team
- Volunteers tell us they find befriending really rewarding
- You will be offered the opportunity to attend relevant training
What is expected of me?
Befriending volunteers are expected to call or visit their friend regularly at mutually convenient times. The frequency is agreed in advance. Volunteers will also need to attend a short training session and provide references.
Find out more
Please contact the Befriending Service in Hope for more information about becoming a befriender:
Tel: 01433 620263
Email: befriending@ageukderbyandderbyshire.org.uk
Caroline Court Day Centre
Marsh Avenue
Hope
Hope Valley
S33 6RX
Case studies from Befriending volunteers:
We have volunteers in all our services and areas of work. One of the service that has a lot of volunteers is our befriending service. Here are two case studies from befriending but represent the feelings of lots of our volunteers:
- Margaret has been volunteering for many different organisations, but now finds that befriending fits perfectly into her busy life. She says “I get so much enjoyment out of just giving up a few hours of my time, and I have found that it has enriched my own life just as much as those that I visit. Those that I visit are so grateful for the time I give them, and also to know that someone does care about them. I have found it interesting to think that only a few hours of my time could make such a significant difference to a person who lives alone. This type of volunteering is so rewarding and I learn so much from the people that I visit”.
- Vivian, who helps out at a lunch club and also takes a lady out to the park in her wheelchairs says “When I visited my mother in a care home, after she had a stroke, I was surprised on how many people did not have someone visiting them. It made me think about how I would feel if my mother did not have me, or how I would feel if I was in the same situation. I would hope that someone would take the time to visit me. I didn’t have much to do with the elderly before now, but do now with the volunteering, and it has enriched my life. When I hear on the news how older people are treated or forgotten, it’s very sad to hear. Now I try to encourage the rest of my family and try to inspire the younger generation to volunteer. When I hear that Age UK are desperate for volunteers it surprises me, as volunteering with the elderly is so rewarding, because you meet such wonderful characters who have interesting and humorous stories to tell.