Funding Secured for The Gift of Friendship Befriending and Goal Setting Service

Age UK Isle of Wight are pleased to share positive news; we have successfully won a bid to deliver a new service worth £101,000 over 21 months, with funding generously provided by the Julia Rausing Trust.

Titled The Gift of Friendship (GoF), this new service aligns closely with the values of our Good Neighbour Scheme (GNS) but is designed to enhance our offerings rather than replace them. Our proven record in operating befriending services made us one of just twenty local Age UKs to have been awarded this grant.

The GoF programme operates as a befriending service, yet it distinguishes itself from the GNS by incorporating a strong emphasis on goal setting and short-term focused intervention. To make the service easily identifiable, we have listed the service as Goal Setting Befriending. 

These goals can range from something simple, like leaving the house for the first time in years, to rekindling friendships by writing and posting letters to old friends, or even decluttering areas in their homes to create a more positive living environment. Many tasks that we often take for granted in day-to-day life, but for someone who is isolated or lonely can come with great difficulty. 

The project funding will also allow us to allocate more resources toward marketing efforts, enabling us to reach older individuals in need across the Island. Isolated, alone, or offline individuals are often the hardest to reach, and this funding will help us address that challenge.

It is important to note that there is a criterion for clients to benefit from this free service.

If this service sounds of interest, please call us at 01983 525282 for more information. Furthermore, we need to increase our volunteer numbers to reach 165 clients with this service, as outlined by the grant. If you are interested in supporting The GoF, we encourage you to get in touch.