Befriending

November 3, 2023

Befriending Week – Befriending is support

‘I’ve gained a really great friend, someone that I now feel really close to and care about deeply. As humans, we just want to feel heard and supported. If all it takes to make someone feel marginally better about themselves is an hour a week, chatting, watching telly, or having a cup of tea, then I’m more than happy to partake. I really enjoy it and couldn’t recommend it more. It’s a great way to spend time with a person you may not have met otherwise.’

1-7th November is Befriending Week: it’s a chance to celebrate befrienders and the huge difference they make to the people they support. Thousands of people in Hackney are lonely or isolated, especially after the pandemic. At VCH, we run a befriending service called Community Befrienders, which pairs volunteers with people of any age and background in Hackney who are lonely or isolated.

September 15, 2020

Make a real difference as a Community Supporter

Help support your community in its time of need. We’re looking for volunteers to make a real difference to the lives of someone in their local community by acting as a Community Supporter/Telephone Befriender. As a volunteer, you’ll help enhance a local resident’s life by supporting and promoting their confidence and helping them to thrive. […]

May 31, 2020

Role Round Up June 2020

Whilst we can’t run our regular Volunteer Fairs and give you the opportunity to meet organisations face-to-face at this time, VCH continues to bring you some of the latest volunteering opportunities across the borough. Whether you can offer your skills for a one-off, specialist role, or want to volunteer more long term, there are loads […]

June 4, 2019

Help beat loneliness – become a befriender

Volunteer Centre Hackney are seeking friendly and approachable people to befriend local residents who are isolated and need companionship, or a little encouragement and support to get out and about. Does this sound like you? ‘Volunteering as a befriender has been such a positive experience. I have learned a lot from listening to interesting stories about London […]

April 11, 2019

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 […]