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Befriending and Enabling Connections

Older lady and younger woman sitting inside smiling

What is the Befriending service?

Our ONE-TO-ONE Befriending volunteers help to combat loneliness and isolation by making regular visits to older people in their homes, providing companionship and a listening ear.

Who is the service for?

This service is open to residents of Kensington & Chelsea who are:

  • Are aged 50+ and live in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Cheslea
  • Live alone or have limited support from family or friends
  • Have limited social contact or feel lonely
  • housebound and are struggling with isolation due to being unable to leave their property

What is the Enabling Connections service?

A short-term Befriending Service (up to six months) providing face-to-face support for older people who may be experiencing loneliness or social isolation. Volunteer Befrienders will be matched with an older adult. They will spend time each week visiting their match to offer support and companionship to increase social connectedness and reach personalised goals.

Who is this service for? 

  • Are aged 50+ and live in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Cheslea
  • Live alone or have limited support from family or friends
  • Have limited social contact or feel lonely
  • Are willing and able to set and work towards simple goals as part of a 6-month programme

Alternative Befrending service links

Age UK Telephone Befrending

The Silver Line Helpline

 

Making Friends In the Community

If you or the person you are supporting can get out and about but feel isolated our Activities and Events programmes is a great service for providing the widest possible opportunity to socialise be it in person or online. Our friendly staff and volunteers will help you feel right at home, and you’ll have the opportunity to make new friends and learn new skills.

You can contact our Events team on event@aukc.org.uk or 0208 969 9105 (Option 3)
Specialist Support

If you or the person you are supporting has Dementia they would be best supported by our Dementia Team, please contact them on 020 3181 0002 or email dementia@aukc.org.uk.

If you or the person you are supporting has complex mental health needs, they may benefit from specialist befriending support. More information can be found on https://www.hestia.org/ or by contacting 020 7221 0052
Help with Mobility

Our volunteer Escorts can offer a steadying arm or push your wheelchair to help you get to an appointment or an event. Please call 020 8969 9105 (Option 4) or by email escortingandbefriending@aukc.org.uk

Who do I contact?

If you think you or someone you know would benefit from a volunteer Befriender, please contact Will Porter on 020 8969 9105 (Pressing Option 4) or by email escortingandbefriending@aukc.org.uk

For Professionals, please find our Befriending Referral form here.

  • Call in Time telephone befriending

    Call in Time is a free telephone befriending service run by Age UK national. They can arrange for a friendly volunteer to call you every week for 30 minutes. 

    Sign up today 

  • Become a Befriending volunteer

    You could help make a real difference to the life of a lonely older person by becoming a befriending volunteer. To find out more about this, and all our other volunteering opportunities, click here.

    Volunteer with us