Barry’s lifelong owl dream comes true through Gift of Friendship

A special day for Barry shows how friendship, encouragement and support can help older people feel more connected, rebuild confidence and enjoy meaningful moments again.

A wish that stayed with him for years

Some wishes stay with us for a lifetime.

For Barry, one of those wishes was to see an owl up close. Thanks to support through Age UK Isle of Wight’s Gift of Friendship programme, that wish recently became a reality in a truly memorable and heartwarming way.

Barry was the very first person referred to Gift of Friendship, which is part of our Good Neighbour Scheme. Launched in 2025 with generous support from the Julia Rausing Trust and Age UK, the programme works alongside the support our volunteers already provide, with an added focus on helping older people work towards personal goals, rebuild confidence and enjoy meaningful moments.

Rebuilding confidence and connection

After the loss of his wife, Barry had become quite isolated and was spending much more time on his own. Through Gift of Friendship, he was matched with a volunteer who began supporting him to get out more, rebuild confidence and reconnect with other people.

Over time, that support began to make a real difference. Barry started attending our Chatty Brew events, which he came to enjoy, and began taking positive steps towards feeling more connected again.

During one visit, Barry shared one of his biggest wishes with his volunteer: to see an owl up close.

Where Barry’s love of owls began

Barry’s love of owls goes back many years to his time working as an aeronautical engineer, including at Boscombe Down. Although he was born on the Isle of Wight, he spent large parts of his life on the mainland and around the world through his work.

During those years, he would often watch owls nesting high in the hangars where he worked and see them flying out, but he never had the chance to get close to one.

That lifelong fascination stayed with him.

Making the day happen

When Barry shared just how much seeing an owl up close would mean, his volunteer passed this on to our team and to Barry’s family. Together, everyone began looking at how the experience might be made possible.

With the support of Barry’s family, who kindly agreed to pay for the experience, and with help from The Falconry Experience Isle of Wight, Barry’s special day was arranged at home.

It turned into a wonderful afternoon.

Barry spent time meeting three owls, Rebel, Penny and Shadow, and the joy of the experience was clear to everyone there. It was a special moment not only because of the owls themselves, but because of everything the day represented: confidence returning, connection growing, and a wish that had been held onto for years finally coming true.

Reflecting on the day, Barry said: “When you’ve dreamed of something for ever and ever and it comes true, you just can’t believe it.”

He also summed up the experience simply and perfectly: “That’s made my day. Absolutely.”

What Gift of Friendship is all about

Barry’s story is a lovely example of what Gift of Friendship is all about. While not every goal is as unusual as meeting an owl, the programme is built around the idea that personal goals matter.

For one person, that might mean stepping outside for the first time in a while. For another, it could be joining a local social group, taking a short walk, writing to an old friend, or rebuilding the confidence to get out and about again.

What matters is that support is tailored to the individual, and that progress, however big or small, is encouraged and celebrated.

Gift of Friendship sits alongside the wider work of our Good Neighbour Scheme, where volunteers offer companionship and support to older people across the Isle of Wight. Often, the most meaningful changes begin with something simple: a regular visit, a conversation, a bit of encouragement, and knowing someone is there.

In Barry’s case, that steady support helped him reconnect socially and led to a day he will never forget.

We are hugely grateful to Barry’s family for helping make the day possible, and to The Falconry Experience Isle of Wight for creating such a memorable and meaningful experience.

If you know somone who would like to recieve the gift of friendship you can like here: Gift of Friendship 

Volunteer with us

If Barry’s story has inspired you, we would love to hear from you.

Volunteers play a vital role in helping older people across the Isle of Wight feel more connected, supported and less alone. By giving a little of your time, you could help someone rebuild confidence, enjoy more social connection and feel more supported in everyday life.

Whether you can offer regular companionship, encouragement or simply a friendly presence, your time can make a real difference.

Support our work with a donation

Donations help us continue supporting older people across the Isle of Wight through services like Gift of Friendship and our wider Good Neighbour Scheme.

With your support, we can continue helping older people feel less isolated, more connected and better supported, while making meaningful moments and practical help possible when they are needed most.

Watch Barry’s story

You can also watch a video of Barry’s special day on our Facebook page.

Watch the video here:
Link to video