Rose and Sarah met through Age UK
Rose wanted someone to chat and have a cuppa with, so she signed up for our befriending service. "It's the best thing that I could have ever done," she says.
Friendship services
At Age UK, one of the ways we try to combat loneliness in later life is through our friendship services. We offer two different types:
Telephone friendship
Age UK and our partner charity The Silver Line offer free telephone friendship services so you can enjoy chatting with someone over the phone, all from the comfort of your own home.
Whether you’d like to speak to someone every week, or just want to talk when the need strikes, we’re here to help.
Become a Telephone Friendship volunteer
If you're interested in being a Telephone Friendship volunteer, we'd love to hear from you.
Face-to-face befriending
Befriending services are available at many local Age UKs. They will often involve a volunteer befriender visiting an older person in their home, perhaps for a cup of tea and a chat, or accompanying them to an activity (such as a trip to a cafe or the theatre). In some cases, a volunteer may accompany the older person to occasional hospital or doctor's appointments.
Need some advice?
The Age UK Advice Line is a free, confidential, national phone service for older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals, which is open 365 days a year (8am-7pm). If you're feeling lonely or need some practical help and support, please call us on 0800 678 1602.