Befriender

Volunteer Visitors are introduced to someone - often an older person - who may be unable to get out and about and seldom has visitors. People can request a befriending visitor or be referred by a relative, Social Services, the NHS or another agency.

Volunteers visit weekly or fortnightly to give companionship. Some Visitors also take people out to the town (social shopping) or for a cup of coffee and they help them to make use of Shopmobility facilities if need be.

Skills

• A friendly personality and the ability to talk with and listen to an older person.
• Our clients may have failing sight or hearing or suffer from early dementia, so volunteers need to be patient and kind.