b:friend

We believe in facilitating meaningful community connection to transform an individual’s value of themselves, reduce their feeling of loneliness and enable them to build resilience in later life.
b:friend's vision is to reduce social isolation for people who are over 65, live on their own and do not have a diagnosis that requires specialist support i.e. dementia.

Information for volunteers

This is community support in its most authentic form.

Volunteer befrienders pledge to visit a socially isolated older neighbour near them for one hour per week for a cuppa and a chat. On the way back from work, the shops, dropping the kids at school – whenever is convenient for both parties, a befriender will spend an hour just chatting, listening and supporting someone that otherwise may have no one.

We pair individuals primarily based on locality (South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) and also make connections based on personal interests. Each befriender and older neighbour receive regular support to ensure they’re benefitting from the project.

We also offer opportunities for volunteers to provide support at our weekly social clubs or on an adhoc basis for deliveries, social events or transport.