Care in the autumn years

Befriending Service
Help support lonely older adults in your area
Sign up

BEFRIENDING SERVICE

About the Service

Glasgow’s Golden Generation has been providing a Befriending Service to older adults in Glasgow since 1948. The Befriending Service, then known as the Neighbourhood Visiting Project, was the charity’s original service and continues to thrive today. Trained volunteer Befrienders are matched with older adults with similar interests. These volunteers visit their Befriendee weekly in their own home, or meet with them in the community where possible.

Eligibility

Anyone can become a befriender – you don’t need any qualifications and you’ll receive full training. You’ll be matched with an older adult with similar interests in your area.

 

The service designed to support those who do not have adequate social or emotional support networks or are otherwise socially isolated.

 

Most older adults who use our service live alone and do not have family members nearby.

 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, home visits have been replaced with video or telephone befriending. While home visits will resume when possible, telephone/video befriending will still be available if an older person would prefer this.

Referrals

Please note our Befriending Service is not currently taking new referrals due to the popularity of the service. 

Why Befriending is important

The 2018 Draft National Strategy to Tackle Loneliness and Social Isolation sets out a vision for a Scotland ‘where community connections are increased and no one is excluded from participating in society for any reason.’


The strategy recognises the key role that strong social relationships & connections have in determining our quality of life.


The GGG Befriending Service improves quality of life for older people who are housebound, lonely and isolated, living with dementia and their unpaid carers.


The service makes a difference health and well-being, confidence, self-esteem and in reducing social isolation and loneliness.


Our Befriending Service helps our clients to experience a greater sense of confidence, independence and well-being.


You can help by signing up as a volunteer befriender here.

Karen Moyes

Befriending and Clubs Manager

Karen Moyes

Please note we are currently unable to accept new referrals to the service.