Stephen's Story

Stephen’s Story: How Befriending Helped Change More Than One Life

Stephen joined Isle of Wight Age UK's Gift of Friendship befriending service at a difficult time in his life. Since then, volunteering has brought connection, purpose and companionship in ways he did not expect. Here, Stephen shares his story in his own words.

Stephen's story in his own words:

"Following the passing of my partner in September 2025 and being alone for the first time in almost 53 years, I felt the need to find something to distract from the sadness I felt. Although I’m lucky to have some good friends who are there for me if I need them, I still wanted to do something different.

I initially thought about volunteering with Mountbatten Hospice, as they had been so good to us both when we needed them. However, friends suggested that I look at the Isle of Wight Age UK's befriending service, which I did, and I duly applied for the role of befriender.

Since being given this opportunity, I now have two clients who I visit on a regular basis. I had hoped that my visits would bring comfort to those I visited, but never dreamed they could be such a benefit to me. Seeing other people’s struggles with loneliness and grief made me realise that so many of us face later life challenges, and we’re not alone in feeling like this.

Isle of Wight Age UK has given me so much in such a short time. Not only am I a befriender, but also most certainly befriended."

Why Stories Like Stephen’s Matter

Stephen’s story means a great deal to all of us at Isle of Wight Age UK. It is a reminder that befriending is not only about offering support to someone else, but also about building connection, purpose and companionship in return. Stories like Stephen’s show just how powerful that shared human connection can be, and why Gift of Friendship means so much to the people involved.

If you think you could spare a little time to support an older person on the Isle of Wight, we would love to hear from you. To find out more about becoming a Gift of Friendship volunteer you can email volunteering@ageukiw.org.uk or visit our volunteering page here