Could you be a Telephone Befriender? Calderdale’s Staying Well Hub is looking for volunteers!
The aim of telephone befriending is to reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness in older people. Volunteers are required to ring an older person to check on them and build a friendship.
Befrienders are carefully selected volunteers, from a variety of organisations and mental health charities, who are trained to provide support and companionship to lonely, or emotionally distressed, people.
Studies show that there are many positive benefits for the befriender as well. For example, you may enjoy knowing you are making a positive difference in someone’s life; you may improve your own social skills and may feel your confidence grow. Befriending can come in many shapes and forms.
There are several charities which recruit telephone befrienders nationally including Age UK, the Silverline, the Campaign to end Loneliness, Deafblind, Methodist Homes (MHA), the Macular Society and many more.
Calderdale’s Staying Well Hub is now recruiting – see below for more details or call 01422 392767 or email stayingwellproject@calderdale.gov.uk
