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Telephone Befrienders
We need people who can regularly telephone an older person to provide friendship and support
As a telephone befriender, you will help 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.
One half an hour call seems really simple, but having someone to talk to and someone to listen, could really make a difference to an older person. It could be that you’re the only person they speak to that day, or even that week. Our telephone befriending service has become increasingly important during the pandemic as people become more isolated whilst staying indoors.
Our befrienders are introduced to an older person, either through a telephone call or a free video calling programme like Skype (this would depend if the older person had access to a home broadband connection).
The calling is flexible, we recommend you try and keep the call to the same time and day every week, but it’s up to you and you can discuss this on your first call.
- Are aged 18 and over
- Good listening skills
- Patience, empathy and understanding of the needs of older people
- Ability to keep records of calls made
- Flexible, reliable and punctual
- Clear sense of personal boundaries and confidentiality
- Able to provide non-judgemental support
- Engage with training and development
Fundraise for MHA
Help us to support crucial and life enhancing services that eliminate isolation and loneliness, enabling people to live later life well.
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