Why did you decide to volunteer as a Community Befriender?
I decided to become a befriender when I was searching for a suitable care home for my father, and discovered how many old people are just abandoned in homes and never have any visitors. It brought into sharp focus how there are so many elderly people alone at home, who rarely have any human contact at all.
Tell us about your journey with Community Befrienders
I’ve been a befriender on and off for over 10 years. I started off visiting an 86-year-old Polish lady in Kensington, who I suspect may have had the early signs of dementia as we had the same conversations over and over. I saw her for about 9-10 months, by which time I had moved to a new area.
For the last 15 months I’ve been visiting an 88-year-old woman who lives alone in a tower block and has been very lonely and depressed, since losing her husband about 5 years ago. She has to take a lot of medications for schizophrenia and to balance various side effects.
We seem to have hit it off. She is extremely intelligent and articulate, with a great interest in philosophy and spirituality and plays the piano. I try to chivvy her out for short walks and even when she’s initially reluctant she usually feels better for them. She says she really looks forward to my visits and her daughter has also expressed appreciation.
How important is it that the Community Befrienders service, and VCH in general, look to reduce loneliness in Hackney?
I don’t think it can be overstated how big a problem loneliness is, especially among the elderly and those who are physically, mentally and socially isolated.
What’s it been like to work with the Community Befrienders team at VCH?
I’ve found the team to be friendly, supportive and responsive. I appreciate the monthly get togethers.
How would you encourage a member of the public to volunteer as a Community Befriender?
If you enjoy talking to people, this is an enjoyable and flexible way to do some volunteering, while spending time with someone as you would with a friend, chatting, walking, or doing some other activity you both enjoy. You can quite easily fit it around your schedule and change the time or day if necessary. It makes an immediate positive difference to someone’s quality of life, and there’s the wonderful reward of seeing them light up when you arrive.
Read more about the Community Befriender service here.