A west London befriending charity is today launching a campaign to recruit volunteers to its befriending services in Hounslow. BEfriend is commissioned and funded in Hounslow by the Hounslow Borough Based Partnership.
BEfriend matches volunteers with people who are lonely. They meet for an hour or two a week, to have a chat and strike up a friendship.
The above new video, released today, highlights the charity’s work and the relationship between volunteer Alfie and Donald, who he is matched with.
BEfriend runs two befriending services. The core service supports people experiencing loneliness and isolation, which may be due to age or mobility issues, but can be for any reason.
The second service, Linked Minds, supports people experiencing loneliness due to mental health issues.
BEfriend is looking for volunteers for both services. Volunteers will typically visit a befriendee once a week for a couple of hours. They meet at the befriendee’s home, a location where they feel comfortable, or somewhere they can enjoy some exercise or an activity.
Volunteers receive full training before they start visits and ongoing support throughout their befriending journey.
Anyone who wishes to find out more about volunteering for BEfriend, or to sign up can do so on the charity’s website.
Councillor Lily Bath, Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Transformation, said: “BEfriend do fantastic work matching volunteers with people experiencing loneliness in Hounslow.
“I take great pride in the Council’s support for their work as part of the Borough Based Partnership and I would encourage anyone who can spare a couple of hours a week to volunteer. As a Council it’s our duty to improve our residents’ lives in any way we can, and helping people to feel less alone is one way we’re determined to do that.”
Rachel Hill, Chief Executive, BEfriend, said: “BEfriend has now been operating in Hounslow for a full year. It has been incredibly rewarding to witness the positive impact we've already had on individuals facing loneliness, as highlighted in the heartwarming story of Donald and Alfie featured in this video.
“We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who are committed to alleviating loneliness, but the need is great, and we are calling for more volunteers to join us. As we look forward to the year ahead, our goal is to help even more people experience the benefits of connection and companionship.”