A SOLIHULL charity is on the lookout for volunteers to combat loneliness and social isolation.
Age UK Solihull is supporting Befriending Week, an annual campaign to celebrate befriending and highlight the power of social connection in reducing loneliness and social isolation.
During Befriending Week, November 1 to 7, communities across the UK and beyond gather online and in person to raise awareness about befriending, celebrate the contributions of befriending volunteers and the staff who support them, and advocate for befriending to local and national decision-makers.
Age UK Solihull offers befriending to older residents of the Solihull borough who live alone with no family or other support nearby.
Volunteer befrienders are matched with older people based on shared interests and personalities to encourage meaningful connections and lasting friendships.
Befrienders visit or telephone the older person they are matched with on a weekly basis for a chat and often a hot drink, games or other activities.
Jean has been befriending for Age UK Solihull for almost three years.
She visits Wendy, who lives alone with no family nearby, once a week.
Jean said: “This is a great scheme and is an easy way to volunteer if people have a couple of hours free each week.
“Befriending is something I can do easily as I love to talk to people.
“I started in Shropshire where we used to live so when we moved to this area it was an easy choice to make to be able to give back to the community in a small way.”
Wendy and Jean were matched based on shared interests, and they have developed a great friendship.
Jean added: “Wendy has become like a friend, we have our past occupation of teaching in common, we both enjoy reading and have both lived overseas.
“I feel we have the same outlook on life, never taking anything too seriously & just enjoying what we have and do each day. I look forward to visiting her and think she feels the same.”
Solihull has one of the fastest ageing populations in the country, and it is estimated that over 3,400 over 65s in Solihull feel lonely, compared to an average of 3,406 across the West Midlands and 2,633 in the UK.
Hilary Tomlinson, older people’s services manager at Age UK Solihull, said: “Our befriending service is a lifeline to hundreds of older people in Solihull who are lonely or isolated and have no other opportunity for social interaction.
“It is always heartwarming to hear about the friendships formed through the service and the enormous difference it can make.
“We want to be able to provide friendship for every older person in Solihull who needs it, so we hope that people will be inspired to join our team and help make a difference.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer befriender for Age UK Solihull or accessing their befriending service, should click here or contact 0121 704 7846 or [email protected].
