Befriending

One to one befriending involves our befriending volunteers acting as a ‘good neighbour’,  by visiting you at home and spending some time with you. Sometimes you may like to have a cuppa and a catch up with your befriender, other times, you may want to go on a shopping trip or out for lunch together.  Visits are arranged to suit you and your volunteer befriender’s schedules and take place at least once a week.

Who do we help and how?

Our Befriending service is intended for older people living in Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith and the surrounding areas, who feel that they are a little lonely and in need of some company.

In the Derbyshire Dales, our Readycall service operates a similar befriending scheme for people living with long term health conditions.

We offer one to one befriending, telephone befriending and group activities. 

We currently run two coffee mornings, One is fortnightly at a local hotel. We enjoy refreshments together and have a good natter.

The other is run term time only at a secondary school. We meet with a few Sixth Form students and enjoy quizzes and traditional board games. This is a chance to meet new people who are interested in similar things. 

Each group is supported by a member of our befriending team, who is there to make sure things run smoothly. We are also interested in hearing your ideas for new groups – just contact one of our Coordinators.

Will it cost me anything?

Our one to one Befriending service and telephone befriending is funded through grants and donations, and as such, is free for you, as the client. Our volunteers give their time for free and do not expect payment of any kind from our clients.

For group activities, there may be a small charge to cover the cost of materials, refreshments and room hire.

How do I get referred onto the one to one befriending scheme or telephone befriending and who will befriend me?

You may self refer or be referred by someone else.

Our Befriending Coordinator will visit you at home and spend some time with you to produce a Befriending plan. The Coordinator will need to get an idea of your interests, background and what you are looking for in a befriending volunteer in order to make a successful and appropriate match.

Our befriending volunteers are all DBS checked and undergo training with our Befriending Coordinator. We have regular contact with our volunteers and offer training courses throughout the year. Your safety, dignity and wellbeing and that of the volunteer befriender are treated with the utmost importance.

How do I join a group activity?

Simply contact us using the details below! Our Befriending Coordinators will talk you through what we can offer, what it involves and encourage you to give it a try.

Would you like to help as a befriending volunteer?

As a befriender you will act as a ‘good neighbour’ by visiting someone in their home who is lonely or socially isolated. You will spend time with them and have a chat in their own homes or maybe out for a walk together. You and the person you visit can decide what you would like to do each time you meet. The main aim of being a befriender is to provide company and a listening ear.

All our befriending volunteers are DBS checked and undergo training with our Befriending Coordinator in Safeguarding and Confidentiality, as well attending training sessions throughout the year. You and the befriendee’s safety, dignity and wellbeing are treated with the utmost importance. We will also request references and ask for a photo of you to make an ID card.

Once the references and DBS check have been carried out, the Coordinator will match you with someone and introduce you to the befriendee so you can find out about their interests, etc. Visits are arranged to suit you and your befriendee’s schedules, usually meeting up once a week for about an hour.