At Age UK Lincoln & South Lincolnshire, we're thrilled to share the success of Befriending Week 2024, a week dedicated to highlighting the incredible impact of our befriending service.
This year, we celebrated the meaningful connections formed through befriending with a special campaign featuring the voices of those who benefit most from this invaluable service.
Throughout the week, we shared four inspiring videos featuring individuals whose lives have been touched by befriending. Each story offered a unique perspective on the importance of companionship, connection, and community. Viewers heard directly from those who have experienced the joys of a supportive friendship, as well as the comfort and understanding that comes with it.
During the week, we were also delighted to host special coffee mornings for our befrienders, bringing them together to enjoy coffee, cake, and conversation. These gatherings offered us the perfect opportunity to express our gratitude for their dedication and kindness. Some of the coffee mornings were held in local Dunelm cafés, where our befrienders were warmly welcomed and treated, thanks to Dunelm’s support as Age UK’s charity partner of the year.
On Befriending Week, Befriending Coordinator, Catherine said:
"National Befriending Week is the first week in November and it’s a wonderful opportunity to thank all our volunteers across the charity for their time and commitment to their role here at Age UK Lincoln & South Lincolnshire. All our volunteers, whatever their role, are helping to combat social isolation in older people across our area. We currently have 176 volunteers and each and every one should be extremely proud of the positive impact they make. 93 older people receive a weekly home visit or phone call from their befriender and we have befrienders in six care homes who talk to one or more residents and support with activities. As a small way of showing our appreciation we held meet ups, during Befriending Week, across our region and It was lovely to see so many volunteers across the week. Thank you to you all for your ongoing support. Together we will help to tackle social isolation."
One of our main aims for Befriending Week each year is to raise awareness of the service and encourage more volunteers to come on board and become befrienders themselves. Our team is looking forward to welcoming new volunteers to join our befriending family, as we continue to grow this essential service.
If you’re interested in learning more about befriending or becoming a befriender, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us by calling 03455 564 144 or by emailing volunteering@ageuklsl.org.uk for more information on how you can get involved. Let’s keep the spirit of Befriending Week alive all year round.