Sue's Interview

What is your volunteer Role/roles within Age UK Sheffield?
Befriender

For anyone who doesn’t know, what exactly does your role involve? Could you give us a brief description?
I visit the person assigned to me either in their home or if they prefer at another location such as a café. We talk, I try to get them to tell me about their life or to talk about anything they want to. Sometimes we might go for a walk or to a local shop. In the past I have visited IT drop in sessions, local walking groups and other hobby groups with people to help get them interested in activities or help them with current technology.

How long have you volunteered in this role?
Over a year.

What is your favourite part about the role?
Meeting new people, over time finding out about them, what they have done in their life and forming new friendships. I have met some really interesting people.

What is the most rewarding part of this role?
The feeling that I have helped the people I visit with.

What is the hardest part of this role?
Letting go, leaving someone you have made friends with that you have made a connection with.

If someone was interested in also volunteering with Age UK Sheffield, what advice and encouragement would you give them to help them make the leap and sign up?
I have found this such a rewarding and enjoyable experience. I look forward to visiting my new friend and so far the feed back I get from them shows me they very much enjoy the visits too.

If you could sum up the importance and impact of volunteers supporting the work of Age UK Sheffield, what would you say?
The people I visit are lonely, they may have other people in their lives or come into contact with others but they don’t have anyone that can spend a few hours with them talking or doing the things they want to do. Without Age UK Sheffield volunteers these people wouldn’t have this companionship and they could be spending 80 to 90% of their time completely alone.