Role: Age UK Norfolk’s befriending service offers a lifeline to many older people who would otherwise feel lonely and isolated across Norfolk. Befriending is a chatty, friendly call with an older person (or people as befrienders may choose to be in contact with more than one person) and passing on requests for other support. Before they match a member with their Befriender, a member of staff calls them weekly to assess suitability for the service and to enable efficient matching to like-minded volunteers or to volunteers who have the experience to provide the needed support. It sounds simple, but it makes a significant impact.
The main purpose is to make weekly phone calls to older people awaiting a volunteer from the Staff List.