Befriending Scheme

Befriending lonely or Housebound people

This scheme is available for the residents of Oadby and Wigston who are feeling socially isolated. It is an opportunity for them to have a volunteer befriender go into their homes and visit them weekly or as often as mutually agreed.

These clients are referred to us from a variety of agencies such as Social Services, hospitals, neighbours, supported housing schemes, family or sometimes even by the clients themselves.

As at 31st March there were 20 volunteers visiting 24 clients and 1533 hours of befriending have been carried out over the year.

A volunteer befriender does help to make a great difference to the clients and quite often a good friendship develops. This is very rewarding for both the volunteer as well as the client. It is the responsibility of the befriender how far they want to take this relationship in terms of how often and how much time they would like to visit for. This can vary from a weekly/fortnightly visit for a chat and keeping the client company to carrying out small odd jobs, taking the client out shopping, for walks or coffee, and accompanying them to doctor’s appointments.

An effort is always made to find suitable matches but this may not always happen.

The befriending volunteers are providing a very good service and are helping to make a big difference to the clients they are visiting. Some of the comments received over the year from the clients have been “We reminisce about the old times”, “she is jolly and we have a good time”. “The hour passes by so quickly”, “It gives me something to look forward to all week”, “It breaks up my week”.

Voluntary Action for Oadby and Wigston would like to thank all their present befriending volunteers for giving up their time to make such a big difference to their client’s lives.

Gurjit Sangha
Befriender Co-Ordinator

If you are in need of a befriender or would like to volunteer to be a befriender contact us on (0116) 2810026 (24 hour answer phone out of hours)

Please access the Project Friendship Volunteer Page.


Home Projects News Volunteering Services Events About us Contact us Newsletter Directories Job Vacancies Useful Links Feedback Community Search	» Home» Projects» Befriending Scheme Befriending Scheme Befriending lonely or Housebound people This scheme is available for the residents of Oadby and Wigston who are feeling socially isolated. It is an opportunity for them to have a volunteer befriender go into their homes and visit them weekly or as often as mutually agreed. These clients are referred to us from a variety of agencies such as Social Services, hospitals, neighbours, supported housing schemes, family or sometimes even by the clients themselves. As at 31st March there were 20 volunteers visiting 24 clients and 1533 hours of befriending have been carried out over the year. A volunteer befriender does help to make a great difference to the clients and quite often a good friendship develops. This is very rewarding for both the volunteer as well as the client. It is the responsibility of the befriender how far they want to take this relationship in terms of how often and how much time they would like to visit for. This can vary from a weekly/fortnightly visit for a chat and keeping the client company to carrying out small odd jobs, taking the client out shopping, for walks or coffee, and accompanying them to doctor’s appointments. An effort is always made to find suitable matches but this may not always happen. The befriending volunteers are providing a very good service and are helping to make a big difference to the clients they are visiting. Some of the comments received over the year from the clients have been “We reminisce about the old times”, “she is jolly and we have a good time”. “The hour passes by so quickly”, “It gives me something to look forward to all week”, “It breaks up my week”. Voluntary Action for Oadby and Wigston would like to thank all their present befriending volunteers for giving up their time to make such a big difference to their client’s lives. Gurjit Sangha Befriender Co-Ordinator If you are in need of a befriender or would like to volunteer to be a befriender contact us on (0116) 2810026 (24 hour answer phone out of hours) Please access the Project Friendship Volunteer Page.
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Befriending Scheme

Befriending lonely or Housebound people