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Supporting Independence / Befriending Support

Supporting Independence / Befriending Support

The service is for people living within the City of York Council boundary and is free at the point of delivery.

The service aims to reduce loneliness and isolation by matching a trusted befriender (volunteer) with an person via a meaningful befriending relationship, for as long as the person needs this support. It aims to bring people together, offer companionship, build confidence, improve wellbeing and help people feel more connected, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. * We provide opportunities for people to meet others in their local area and to develop lasting friendships.

Staff within the service will link the person with an Age UK York volunteer, with the aim to develop a mutually beneficial relationship, through regular face to face contact.

The service will work with the person to identify what is important to them.

Support may include:

  • Providing companionship / befriending in and outside the home
  • Support to increase social contact (attend groups/activities)
  • Support to Increase confidence and independence, E.g. to enable the person to access their local community
  • Provide support to enable you to undertake your shopping independently
  • Signposting and referrals to a range of Age UK York and external services, as required.
  • Befriending cafes * – see further details below

Befriending cafes * New from Jan 2026

These can be attended by all people that have an open referral with the service they are offered alongside any individual volunteer support the person receives.

They occur weekly at various locations in the York area. The aim of these is to encourage the person to get out, to introduce the person to other people and provide peer to peer companionship and support from staff / volunteers.

The cafes are free to attend; however the person needs to buy their own refreshments.

People are welcome to bring support or a family member to the event if needed.

Staff and volunteers attend these events, so there will always be someone to chat with.  If you are interested and would like more details, please contact the team.

Referrals to Supporting Independence / Befriending Support

Eligibility criteria to the Supporting Independence Service / Befriending Support

*Update 01.09.26 - referrals to this service are currently closed. This is due to the team receiving a high number of recent referrals. We will review this situation regularly and will update the information here when we can accept referrals again.  

If you would like to discuss other support that may be available, please contact our Firstcall service on 01904 634061.

If you already have an open referral to the service and would like to discuss this further, please contact the service on 01904 933631.

Volunteering

This service relies on a pool of volunteers to support the high numbers of people referred. We are always in need of more volunteers. If you are interested in supporting the service, to help maintain a person’s independence and reduce loneliness / social isolation, please visit our volunteer page.  We would really like to hear from you.

General details

Contact details

The service operates Monday to Friday from 9 - 4.30PM

The service is based at:

Age UK York, St Edmund’s House, Margaret Street, York, YO32 3HF

Team e-mail address: supportingindependence@ageukyork.org.uk

Telephone contact: 01904 933631

Funding

The service is funded by City of York Council and the Julia Rausing Trust via Age UK, the ‘Gift of Friendship’ Programme.

The Gift of Friendship Programme aims to promote independence -  to ensure more older people can stay independent for longer and provide connection – enabling friendship and social connection for older people.

*(1) Information adapted from Age UK Gift of Friendship’ Programme  - Key Information document