Befriending Week 2022
Published on 01 November 2022 10:08 AM
Today marks the start of Befriending Week 2022 and the 10th anniversary of the awareness week – a time to celebrate the achievements of befriending services across the country.
Our own Befriending service launched 15 years ago and over those years we have made thousands upon thousands of calls to older people who have faced loneliness and isolation; finding themselves in need of a friendly chat. We’re proud to be here, helping to beat loneliness for older people in Norfolk.
"I really would miss the calls if I couldn't have them. I get lonely and this really helps."
About our Befriending Service
There are times in everyone’s life when we can feel lonely or isolated. For some people it can be that they live on their own, for others it may be that they are caring for their loved one.
Our Befriending service offers people aged 50 or over a friendly weekly phone call with one of our local volunteers or Befriending Co-ordinator. We call weekly for an enjoyable and stimulating chat and also offer the opportunity to take part in a fun quiz, all of which can help to ease feelings of loneliness and isolation.
We are also trialling video calling, for those who would like to experience face to face befriending from the comfort of their own home; this also ensures that volunteering for the service is flexible and can be done from any location.
How we are helping
We currently make over 16,800 calls a year to older people in Norfolk who need companionship, that equates to over 5,600 hours of befriending! Since the outset of the pandemic, our service has grown by 70% and demand continues to rise, as a result we are urgently seeking new volunteers and funding to support the service.
How you can help
There are several ways that you can support our befriending service and help us be there for the older people we call, including:
- Volunteer. Join our friendly volunteering team; learn new skills and meet new people while helping others. You only need as little as 30 minutes a week to spare, and you can volunteer from home. Find out more on our volunteering page.
- Donate. Every single penny helps us to continue making calls. Find out how to donate on our fundraising page.
- Nominate us as charity of the year at your workplace. Does your workplace or business support a charity each year? Nominate Age UK Norfolk’s befriending service as your charity of the year for 2023 to help hundreds of lonely older people right here in Norfolk.