Befriending

Age UK Wakefield District
7 Bank Street
CASTLEFORD
West Yorkshire
WF10 1JD
United Kingdom

Telephone: 01977 552114

The Befriending Service provides volunteer befrienders to isolated older people throughout the whole of the Wakefield District.

Volunteer befrienders offer

The service is made up of volunteers who offer friendship and support to older people.

Volunteers typically spend about an hour a week with an older person to help reduce their feeling of isolation and loneliness.

Volunteer befrienders offer:

• A listening ear
• Conversation and companionship
• Recreational activities within the home such as puzzles, letter writing, or simply sharing memories

Volunteers cannot offer cleaning or similar domestic tasks, or provide personal or nursing care. Neither do they handle the finances of the older person.

Who can use the Befriending Service?

The scheme specifically aims to help older people who:

• Live alone and are unable to get out of the house
• Have no one who is able to spend quality time with them

Many people who use our Befriending Service have physical health problems which have been one of the causes of their isolation. If you'd like to find out more about having a befriender, please call us on 01977 552114

Could you be a befriender?

We are always looking for new volunteers to support isolated older people in our district. You don't need experience or formal qualifications, all you need is the willingness to offer friendship, companionship and a listening ear to someone who is isolated in their home.

As well as befriending there are many other volunteering roles. Click on the below link to find out more about volunteering

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/wakefielddistrict/get-involved/volunteer/