Befriending

Our Befriending Scheme can help if you live alone and would like to have a chat over the telephone or with someone in your own home. A member of our team will visit you initially to match a volunteer with similar interests to provide friendship and a listening ear. The service is free.

Those with needs beyond Age UK Dacorum’s remit will be signposted to organisations who can assist.

Maria, a volunteer befriender, explains how she regularly visits Barbara, how this benefits her and why the befriending scheme is so important.

Who is the service for?

We provide friendship and support for older people who live alone and are isolated, lonely or housebound. 

Research shows that contact with volunteers as part of a social action befriending service appears to significantly improve the quality of life for people in their last years of life.

Referrals

Referrals can be made by individuals, family, friends, neighbours and professionals. 

Who are our volunteers?

Our volunteers come from all walks of life but are all carefully selected and screened before they visit anyone (including a full police DBS check). We aim to match our volunteers with older people who have similar interests and outlook.

Contact

To volunteer as a befriender, make a referral or for further information please contact:

Befriending News