South Gosforth Befriender/Buddy

Abbeyfield Northumbria is a local Charity dedicated to the care and support of older people in Newcastle and Northumberland. “We believe happiness can be found through community, and that loneliness need not be an inevitable feature of old age”. Volunteers are crucial in helping us achieve this. For more information, please visit our website www.abbeyfieldnorthumbria.org.uk

• Do you want to help to improve the lives of older people?
• Do you have a few hours to spare a week?
• Do you want to help an older person get out and about?

Visit assigned residents regularly (typically once a week) for

• conversation,
• shared activities,
• go for walks,
• coffee outings
• or simply to offer a friendly presence.

This is an invaluable role which allows our residents to remain active and get to vital appointments when they are no longer able to go out alone

Visit once a week to meet and chat with residents For 1-2 hours per week

Visits are typically scheduled during daytime hours, but some flexibility may be available

Skills

A genuine interest in supporting older individuals

We ask all our volunteers to:

• Be reliable and have the ability to relate well to others
• Have a warm, friendly, adaptable, caring approach
• Be open-minded and tolerant of different lifestyle and values
• Be able to work within personal and organisational boundaries