Everyone needs someone but not everyone has someone

Befriending Week 1-7 November raises awareness of befriending and the impact it has on individuals and communities in helping combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Volunteer Now is encouraging people to take a moment and think about the invaluable contribution made by local volunteers involved in befriending projects throughout Northern Ireland.

For many years, Volunteer Now has been involving volunteers in their Befriending and Driving schemes which support isolated older people in Belfast.  The services, delivered by volunteers, provide a couple of hours a week of friendship, encouragement or transport and make a huge impact on the health and well-being of the service users.

Lindsay Armstrong, Community Projects Manager, Volunteer Now said,

“Older people may become socially isolated for a variety of reasons.  It could be lack of family contact, loss of a loved one or through ill-health or disability but a volunteer befriender or driver can be a life-changer to many people. Providing friendship by calling for a chat breaks the monotony of another day spent alone at home.  During Befriending Week Volunteer Now is delighted to have this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and organisations involved in a wide variety of befriending services”

Do you have a couple of hours to spare each week?  Would you like to make friends and change lives?   To find out more about befriending or driving in the Belfast area contact:  Victoria.O’Neill@volunteernow.co.uk or Tel. 02890 232020.

Or find out more about these opportunities online:

• Volunteer Now Befriending Scheme (Belfast & Castlereagh)
• Volunteer Now Driving Scheme (Belfast & Castlereagh)
• Volunteer Now Driving Scheme (North Down & Ards)

To see the wide range of other volunteering opportunities available throughout Northern Ireland go to  the ‘Search’ facility on www.volunteernow.co.uk.