Befriending Project

Reaching Communities Lottery Funding

HALE’s befriending project is specifically for people aged 65 and over who are isolated for one reason or another. It might be because they have lost their mobility, or have lost confidence in getting out and about, that they don’t want to go to places on their own, or that they just want someone to share a cuppa with.

Our Befriending scheme has been hugely successful over the past 3 years, but will potentially close in June when the current funding ends.  We are currently working to secure new funding to enable to scheme to continue.

Volunteer befrienders can provide someone older with a valuable connection to the wider community, just by giving up an hour a week to visit them for a cuppa and a chat.

HALE recruits and trains volunteers and then matches them with an older person who has requested a befriender.

This case study really shows how getting involved in befriending can benefit both parties:

Esther was matched with Maude, a lady living with Alzheimers, and has been visiting her for just over a year.  She goes round every Thursday at 5.30 for about an hour.

“We always have a lovely chat over a coffee and some biscuits.  Maude has led such an interesting life, and always injects humour into our conversations.  We talk about everything and anything – sometimes our pasts, sometime our families, and sometimes just every day things like cooking and gardening.  I found out just last week that Maude has a soft spot for Thornton’s Brazil nut toffee!

 

Friendship with Maude is effortless as we have so much in common, despite the wide age gap.  We both love and value our independence, and we share a passion for handicrafts and cats.

 

I look forward to my visits to Maude.  She has enriched my life, and I now feel part of the local community.  I do not have any grandparents, so it is fantastic to have Maude as a friend.  She shares her views and opinions with me, and at times over the last 12 months has given me really good advice from a totally different perspective than I am used to.   I have really learnt a lot from her.”

 

“It no longer feels as though I am volunteering!!  I’m just visiting a friend every week to catch up.“

If you are interested in having a befriender or in volunteering to become a befriendee please contact HALE on 01274 271088.

To refer in to the Befriending scheme you can download and complete the form below, then either post, fax or email to HALE, FAO Aliya Anwar:

Befriending referral form (Word Template)