Did you know we have a befriending service?
Did you know that our Care and Support teams have provided a befriending service for over 10 years now?
The service is delivered by a group of volunteers and offers a friendly visit or phone call to anyone living in Walsall who is socially isolated.
Prior to the pandemic, the service was aimed at anyone over 50. However, during the pandemic, it was evident that people under the age of 50 were also suffering from loneliness and befriending would benefit them too.
Our befriending service puts social interaction in place so that our customers don’t have to live in loneliness.
Those who may benefit from befriending are people who:
- Live by themselves
- Don’t have any family or friends around
- Cannot leave the house independently
- Can’t access digital ways of communication
Befriending is a simple concept that can make a huge difference to people who may not see others often and feel completely alone.
Our Health and Independence Manager Asima Hussain says: “Conversation is a powerful tool for us all, young, and old, in various ways.
“From sharing our worries or bad thoughts, to stimulating the brain, or lifting the mood by laughing and talking about fond memories with someone.
“Many of us will be able to relate to loneliness in the recent lockdowns with isolation and distancing making social interaction difficult to maintain.
“Unfortunately, this isolation is felt most days for some of our customers, with some going days without seeing or speaking to another person.
“Our volunteers who run our befriending service do a fantastic job. They brighten up our customers days and give them something to look forward to. Thank you all for your hard work.”
We are currently looking for people to be a befriending service volunteer. All our volunteers receive full training, and we cover their expenses.
Volunteering is a great way to reduce social isolation, make new friends, gain new skills, and improve your CV.
If you’d like to discuss being a befriending service volunteer call 01922 638825 or email h&iservices@greensquareaccord.co.uk.
