Befriending and Visiting Service
What is befriending?
Befriending is when a volunteer visits or telephones an older person to chat, listen and become a companion.
Volunteers might visit an older person at home to have a natter, drink tea, share a game or go for a walk. They do not undertake any housework, personal care or shopping.
Alternatively, we can arrange for someone to ring each week to chat and catch-up on news.
Volunteers usually visit or phone for about an hour each time, although this can be flexible. Visits or phone calls will be arranged for a time that suits both the client and volunteer. The service is free and confidential.
Who is the service for?
The service is for older people who live alone (or who find it difficult to get out of the house) and who are isolated because they have few visitors each week. Clients must live in the Borough of Guildford (although similar schemes also run in Surrey Heath, Runneymede, Spelthorne, and Woking).
Who are the volunteers?
Our volunteers come from all walks of life but all are carefully selected and screened before they visit anyone (including a full police record check). We try to match volunteers with older people who have similar interests and outlook and the same person will visit each time so that a trusting companionship can be built over time.
What next?
If you want more information contact the Befriending Co-ordinator, Lindsey Carpenter on 01483 514473.
The co-ordinator will arrange to visit the client at home to explain the service and allow time for both parties to decide if befriending is the right thing.
Because we try and match clients with a volunteer who shares their interests and who lives within easy reach there may be a wait until we find sometime to phone or visit.
Contact
Lindsey Carpenter, Befriending and Visiting Co-ordinator
Riverside Café, Friary Passage, Guildford, GU1 4EH
Tel: 01483 514473
Fax: 01483 458732
Email: lindseyc@acsurrey.org.uk