Steel City Friends - Befriending Service
Feeling Lonely? We can help.
If you're an older adult living in Sheffield, our Steel City Friends befriending service can match you with a friendly volunteer who will visit you regularly.
Whether you'd enjoy a chat over a cup of tea, a friendly face to brighten your day, or someone to accompany you to local groups and activities, we're here to help you feel more connected to your community.
“A Lifeline of Friendship” - Cyril, 92
Friendly volunteers needed!
Got an hour to spare a week? Use it to brighten someone's day
As a Steel City Friends volunteer, you'll be matched with an older person to visit once a week for six months. Your visits are an opportunity to share a chat, enjoy each other's company, and help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. If they're interested, you may also support them to take part in local groups and activities.
We aim to match you with someone in your local area. If a suitable local match isn't available, you may be asked to travel to a nearby neighbourhood.
No experience is needed – we'll provide all the training and ongoing support you need, and we'll reimburse some of your travel expenses.
“Older people have told us that they want face-to-face contact.”
What we offer
- Full training before you start
- A Free DBS check
- Travel expenses covered (public transport and mileage)
- Ongoing support from our team
“Seeing Lennie is one of the highlights of my week.” -Gift
Why does it matter?
- 940,000 older people in the UK are often lonely
- 9 in 10 feel unhappy or low
- 1.2 million is the projected figure by 2034 if nothing changes
Need a paper application?
If you’d rather have a paper application posted to you, we’re happy to arrange that. Just call us on 0114 250 2850 or contact us by email: volunteering@ageuksheffield.org.uk
