A free service funded by the Lottery. This service is for older people 60+ who are resident in the Gosport Borough. We offer a Visiting and Telephone Service.

As people grow older there may come a time when for many social isolation becomes a real problem and there are a variety of reasons why.

• Bereavement
• Few or no relatives living nearby
• No close neighbours
• New to the area
• Poor health or poor mobility which confines them to their home
• Hospital discharge, or admission.

There are many more.

Social isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, loneliness, and loss of confidence.

Eligibility

Anyone can make a referral to the Befriending Service. Although the majority are received from Social Services and Health Centres, family, friends, neighbours or the client themselves can refer.

How Does it Work?

Initially all it takes is a phone call to the Co-ordinator.

The Co-ordinator will arrange a visit to the prospective client and explain fully how the Service operates and find out what support the client is looking for. Whenever possible the Co-ordinator will ask for a family member to be present at the meeting so they too are also fully aware of the Service.

What Happens Next?

The Co-ordinator is continually seeking to recruit and select volunteers who will undertake to visit a client in their own home once a week. Other volunteers are selected to make a weekly phone call from the Befriending office once a week to clients.

References are taken up and CRB checks carried out. No volunteer will begin work until all checks have been received and are satisfactory. Every volunteer is issued with an ID card. Once a suitable volunteer is recruited they are introduced to a client personally by the Co-ordinator. Confidentiality is assured.

Costs

There is no charge for the Service – should a volunteer incur out of pocket expenses such as travel costs to visit the client then reimbursement for this would be requested from the client by the Co-ordinator.

Training

On going training is offered to volunteers.

If you would like to learn more about how to access the service or how to become a volunteer, telephone the Co-ordinator on 023 92604681