Enabling Connections Befriending Volunteer
- Location: South Fens Business Centre
- Price: Free
Email: friendships@ageukcap.org.uk
Telephone: 01223221925
Our new goal focused befriending service is called Enabling Connections. It offers short term support for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough residents aged 65 and over who are experiencing loneliness or social isolation, or who have become disconnected from their community following a life change.
The service offers free, volunteer-led support for up to six months, We will work with you to set achievable goals and help people build confidence, reconnect with others and become more involved in their local community.
About
Our new goal focused befriending service is called Enabling Connections. It offers short term support for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough residents aged 65 and over who are experiencing loneliness or social isolation, or who have become disconnected from their community following a life change.
The service offers free, volunteer-led support for up to six months, We will work with you to set achievable goals and help people build confidence, reconnect with others and become more involved in their local community.
Who is the service for?
The service may be suitable for people who are:
• Living alone or feeling socially isolated
• Recently bereaved
• Recovering from illness or a hospital stay
• Caring for someone else
• Experiencing mild anxiety or low mood linked to loneliness
• Having difficulty in adjusting to a life change such as retirement
How we help
Volunteers work alongside individuals to identify and achieve personal goals, such as:
• Joining local groups or activities
• Building confidence to get out and about
• Reconnecting with friends and the local community
• Learning basic digital skills
• Accessing local services and opportunities
Who is eligible?
Individuals should:
• Be aged 65 years or over
• Live in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
• Be experiencing, or at risk of, loneliness or social isolation
• Be motivated to make positive social changes
• Be able to engage with a volunteer for up to six months
• Be able to manage their own personal care needs
When the service may not be suitable
The service is not designed for people who require:
• Specialist mental health support
• Ongoing intensive care or case management
• Treatment for substance dependency
• Significant cognitive support that prevents meaningful engagement
Where appropriate, we will try to signpost or refer individuals to more suitable services.
Our volunteers
All volunteers are DBS checked, trained and supported by Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. They provide encouragement and community-based support but do not deliver personal care or clinical services.