Befriending
- Location: Age UK East Sussex
- Price: Free
Age UK East Sussex
54 Cliffe High Street
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 2AN
United Kingdom
Email: befriending@ageukeastsussex.org.uk
Telephone: 01273 476704
Website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/eastsussex/about-us/contact-us/
Our Telephone Befriending service has now been expanded to allow us to employ a Befriending Coordinator which has enhanced the support we can give to both volunteers and clients.
About this service
Our befriending service for East Sussex residents who are aged over 55 and feel isolated. The service involves a weekly call and lasts up to 26 weeks, although there may be specific occasions where a physical meet up will be appropriate and available. A key element of what we want to achieve with this service is to support the client to become better integrated into their community and ultimately less reliant on this service as they will no longer feel isolated.
How the service works:
❖ Referrals can be made by a third party or directly by the client.
❖ Once referred the client will be contacted by our Befriending Coordinator who will explain the
service and agree further actions.
❖ A volunteer befriender will then call from a withheld number at a mutually agreed day and time
(we will of course tell the client in advance who will be calling).
❖ You can refer to this service by emailing or calling the contact details above, or filling in our online referral form.
Please note that this service is a telephone-based service that is time limited. The referred person will be paired with a befriending volunteer for 6 months and during that time we look at ways they can become better integrated in their community so they will no longer need a befriender. We can accommodate face to face visits where appropriate and to support integration into their community.
Due to high demand please consider whether this service is appropriate and beneficial. For long-term telephone befriending please refer to National Age UK or Silverline. (See Links Below)
We regret that we are not currently able to receive new referrals. Our service capacity is currently reduced while we manage a long waiting list. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we do plan to re-open to new referrals in August 2024.
Can you volunteer as a Befriender?
If you love to speak to people and have a caring and empathetic nature and you would like to be a part of our great team of Befriending volunteers we would love to hear from you. The hours for this role are flexible and you can work from the comfort of your own home.