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Our Befriending Service aims to reduce loneliness and isolation among the elderly by connecting them with compassionate Volunteers who provide consistent, meaningful companionship through weekly home visits, enriching both lives and building a more connected community

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What is Befriending?

Our Befriending service involves matching a Volunteer with someone who is feeling lonely or is living in isolation and has little or no opportunity for social interaction. Our Volunteers can offer companionship through home visits on a weekly basis. Typical visits may include a chat and a cuppa at home, board games/playing cards, getting out for a walk, visiting a local cafe or library. The duration of the visits is 1-2 hours.

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Become a

Volunteer Befriender

Becoming a Befriender involves giving 1-2 hours per week of your time visiting an older person in the community who is feeling lonely and/or living in isolation. There is no experience required - just a willingness to make a difference in someone's life. Each Volunteer is matched based on compatibility and will see the same person every week with the aim of developing a meaningful companionship. All Volunteers go through a Disclosure Scotland PVG check and attend mandatory training before being matched. Volunteers receive 1:1 support throughout their entire journey with us and invited to regular get-togethers to connect with other Befrienders.

Looking for a Befriender?

Our Befriending service accepts Referrals for those aged 60 and over, living in either EH13 or EH10 postcode areas of Edinburgh.

We ask for all Referrers to consider our guide in the first instance and then get back in touch with us if you wish to make a Referral.

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The Befriending Team

What our Volunteers say

"If you have a spare hour to give your company then go for it, it's the best thing I've ever got involved with."

Get in touch

Call the main office: 0131 445 3332
Email us: volunteering@oxgangscare.org
Whatsapp the Befriending mobile: 07482799710
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