Make a meaningful connection – Become a Befriender

Isolation can be detrimental to a person’s health. 2 in 5 older people in Britain are chronically lonely and studies have shown it is worse for you than obesity and can lead to diseases such as dementia and depression. Anyone of any age can be lonely, and for some, there is no choice but to be alone through a combination of circumstances. The good news is with the help of volunteers, befriending projects like VCH’s Community Supporters can make a real difference.

What’s involved?

The Community Supporters project aims to help reduce isolation, develop self-confidence and promote positive relationships in the community through the activities of our befrienders, Hackney Helpers. By doing something as simple as having a conversation over a cup of tea or introducing your new friend to a local activities club, you can help maintain a meaningful connection in the community and improve isolation in Hackney.

How does it help?

Benefits for the people that volunteers visit include improved confidence, decreased loneliness, improved mental health, and increased engagement in the community as well as better physical wellbeing. Amalia became a befriender to make a positive impact in Hackney- but stayed because she ‘was extremely inspired by the benefits volunteering can have to the person receiving the service’

Why should I get involved?

Befriending can be beneficial for you too! Volunteering increases employment opportunities, people skills and emotional intelligence. “Registering and training as a Hackney Helper has been a great experience and helped me enormously in finding a new direction”

Befriending can be very flexible and is a great way to connect with people in your community if you don’t have much time. For example, VCH’s Hackney Helpers can volunteer weekly, monthly or fortnightly across various locations and through different activities. VCH’s Hackney Helpers often report mutually enjoyable friendships. Amalia explained that her first visit ‘felt like a blind date’ but it didn’t take them long to find common ground and now the meetings are ‘very pleasant, very productive and very satisfying’ T says that despite their 62-year age difference, her befriendee ‘has become my friend and my second grandmother – it means a lot to both of us that we can be there for each other.’  

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a Hackney Helper get in touch with Chris or Farzana at hackneyhelpers@vchackney.org or on 020 7241 4443. All Hackney Helpers receive free training to help you best manage your friend’s needs, and our next training session is taking place in late April.

Read more about befriending roles on offer in Hackney with Sense and Volunteer Centre Hackney.

Or to find more befriending roles with different charities, Click here and search ‘befriender’