Befriending
Regular visits and calls from a trusted volunteer
We match you with a trained, DBS-checked local volunteer who visits or calls at a regular time each week. Free, and no referral needed.
Families and carers are welcome to get in touch on someone's behalf.
How it works
Four ways we keep people connected
Every match is different. These are the most common arrangements.
Home visits
A volunteer pops round once a week for a cuppa and a chat, at a time you agree together.
Telephone befriending
A friendly call at the same time each day or week, through our partner Home to Home Calls.
Getting out and about
A walk, a trip to the shops, a club or the shed. When you're ready, and only if you want to.
Care home visits
Regular visitors for residents who rarely see anyone from outside.
He talks about the football and I talk about my garden. Neither of us knows much about the other's subject, and it does not matter at all.
Getting matched
What happens after you get in touch
We take care over matching, because a good match is what makes befriending work.
We call to discuss what you would like: visits, calls or both, and when.
We find a volunteer nearby who shares some of your interests. Every volunteer is interviewed, referenced and DBS-checked.
Your coordinator introduces you on the first visit, then checks in regularly to make sure it's working for you both.
Our partner
Home to Home Calls
Daily telephone befriending for people who are socially isolated. The same friendly voice, at a pre-agreed time, every day.
What the call is
A welfare check and a medication reminder, or a chat about the weather and the news. Each person is carefully matched with their own befriender.
What AgeTrust adds
Face-to-face visits and help navigating health, social care and wellbeing support, with a particular focus on care homes.
Free places funded by AgeTrust
Home to Home Calls asks for a small donation for its service. AgeTrust funds free places for people who cannot pay.
Good to know
Befriending: frequently asked questions
Not sure where to start? Call us.
Lines are open monday to friday 7am – 7pm, and at the weekend 10am – 5pm. We will listen and direct you to the right service, even if it is not ours.
Volunteer
Give an hour a week. Change someone's week.
Our befrienders, shed members and local helpers make our work possible. No experience is needed. We pay expenses and provide full training and support.
