Befriending Scheme
Offering company and support to older people in the community.
Home visiting Schemes
Age Concern Leicester Shire and Rutland provides befriending services that provide home visits in North West Leicestershire and Rutland. These projects are funded by North West Leicestershire District Council and Rutland County Council.
Befriending services are designed to meet the needs of older people who may be lonely or socially isolated and in need of some company and support. Befriending services are free to users and anyone can refer to the scheme. This includes self-referrals from older people who wish to use the service.
The Co-ordinator will visit the older person to meet them and assess their needs. The next step will involve introducing the older person to a volunteer who will then visit them regularly. Volunteers and service users decide the frequency, day and timing of visits between themselves.
All volunteer befrienders undergo an enhanced check with the Criminal Records Bureau and Age Concern also requires them to provide satisfactory references as part of the recruitment process.
We offer ongoing support and training to our volunteers.
Service users and Volunteers enjoy the building of a new friendship and can feel secure and confident being involved with a recognised organisation.
For more information contact:
Louise Scott (NW Leicestershire) - 01530 833000 (24 hour answerphone)
Sue Bamber (Rutland) - 01572 770324