Befriending Week 1-7 Nov
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Befriending Week 1-7 Nov
Befriending Week takes place 1-7 November throughout the UK, raising awareness of befriending and the impact it has on individuals and communities in helping combat feelings of isolation and loneliness. This year the Campaign will shine the spotlight on health and wellbeing. Here in Northern Ireland Volunteer Now is encouraging people to take a moment and think about the invaluable contribution made by local volunteers involved in befriending projects and the difference they make to so many individuals.
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,
“Volunteer Now co-ordinates the Befriending Network which is focused on bringing together organisations providing or wanting to provide a befriending service for people with many different needs, sensory impairment, disability, mental ill health and challenges that older age can bring. 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 volunteers and organisations involved in the wide variety of befriending services throughout Northern Ireland”
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.
To see the wide range of other volunteering opportunities available throughout Northern Ireland go to the ‘Search’ facility on www.vlunteernow.co.uk
