Volunteer Befriender

Help tackle loneliness and isolation in your Community. As a Volunteer Befriender, you will visit an older person in their own home once a week for a chat and to provide companionship. 

Our Befriending service supports older adults by alleviating loneliness and isolation, supporting independence, and increasing self-confidence, by making weekly or fortnightly visits to a client living in the borough of Croydon.

We place emphasis on making the right match for you and the client to ensure an enjoyable and rewarding experience. One of the befriending team will work closely with you during the match process and accompany you on your first visit to introduce you to the client.

You will be assigned a line manager who will support and encourage you. We provide a befriending induction along with training and ongoing support to ensure that you are fully equiped and ready for what will be a rewarding and positive experience. Feedback from our clients and volunteers show the huge impact on wellbeing that an hour a week can make.  

What will I be doing?

• Visiting an older person in their own home once a week maybe for a cup of tea and a chat.
• Providing companionship.
• Other activities mutually agreed by the Client and the Volunteer such as reading together and puzzles.

What we ask for:

• Good listening skills.
• An open-minded and non-judgemental attitude.
• An ability to maintain professional boundaries.
• Realiability.
• Willingness to adhere to Age UK Croydon's policies and procedures