Befriending: Home Visiting for Older People 60+

As we get older, it’s easy to become isolated and lonely as our opportunities for social activities reduce. Some older people see no-one for days at a time. A regular weekly visit or phone call from a local volunteer befriender can brighten your day, help improve your mental health and often results in friendship.

Available to those aged 60 or above (and who are housebound), the Time & Talents team carefully matches you with a befriender who we think you’ll get on with – someone who may have a shared interest or something else in common with you. You then arrange to meet or speak at a time that works for you both, and we keep in touch to make sure things are going well.
 
We offer in-person befriending with home visits (when we are able to), as well as telephone befriending.

Would you like a befriender?

To refer yourself or someone you know who may enjoy the opportunity to share a cuppa, go for a walk, or have a chat on the phone with a befriender, get in touch by emailing referrals@timeandtalents.org.uk, or by giving us a call on 020 7232 5664. 

Time & Talents works in partnership with Blackfriars Settlement and LinkAge Southwark to ensure that there is a befriending service for all Southwark residents. To see a map of coverage and check what partner serves your area, please click here and scroll to the bottom. 

Click here to download a referral form

Would you like to become a befriender?

Volunteer befriending has been at the heart of Time & Talents’ offer for over 40 years, and we always have a waiting list of isolated older people who need someone to pay them a weekly visit or phone call.

Would you like to spend an hour or two each week taking someone out for a while, watching a film, playing Scrabble – or simply having a chat over a cup of tea?

You will get a lot in return: a feeling of being connected to your community, the fun of getting to know someone you might not otherwise meet, and even a new friendship. Some of our befriendees may have some degree of dementia, so we will train you to feel confident in providing support to someone with needs of this kind.

How it works

We’ll carefully match you with someone we think you’ll get on with, and then introduce you. After that, it’s up to you! We’ll keep in touch to make sure things are going well, and offer full support to the person you’re befriending, in case you find they need some extra help.

To become a befriender, or to find out more about the different ways you could help, email us at volunteering@timeandtalents.org.uk, call us on 020 7232 5669, or click on the button below to sign up:

Apply now!