Individual Befriending
Our volunteers provide a friendly face that can brighten the life of someone who is lonely and isolated
Many AJR members are now elderly and live alone, sometimes with few friends or family members close by.
The days can seem very long without either leaving the house or welcoming someone through the front door. This is where our Befrienders can really make a difference. Our volunteers provide a friendly face that can brighten the life of someone who is lonely and isolated
Why volunteer for the AJR?
Our members are a unique group of people, who have survived a turbulent history. They have lived through times of great change, and have many interesting stories to tell. It is hugely rewarding to offer help and support to those who have endured so much.
What AJR Befrienders can expect:
- Clients and volunteers are carefully matched
- Induction training
- Regular support from a volunteer coordinator
- Group meetings with other volunteers in your area
- Ongoing training as needed
- Travel costs and expenses reimbursed
- Invitations to AJR events
As an AJR Befriender you will:
- Visit on a regular basis, usually weekly or fortnightly or sometimes monthly
- Visit someone in their own home or a care home
- Accompany someone for a coffee or for some shopping or perhaps a stroll
- Making a meaningful difference to the life of someone who is lonely
Mrs H arrived on the Kindertransport as a small child. Her husband passed away many years ago, and she does not have children. Although she has relatives, they do not live close by. She is visited each week by volunteer befriender, Mrs G. They chat about current affairs over coffee and cake, and quite often they go out for lunch together. When asked recently if she had a volunteer visitor, Mrs H said she did not. She felt such a friendship with Mrs G, she had forgotten she was actually a volunteer!
Mrs H - Volunteer
