These volunteers are fighting loneliness by ‘befriending’ elderly people in Adur and Worthing

‘Enriching, life-affirming, joyous’ – these are some of the words used by a veteran volunteer to describe being a ‘befriender’.
Claire and Cheryl were matched up through the scheme six years agoClaire and Cheryl were matched up through the scheme six years ago
Claire and Cheryl were matched up through the scheme six years ago

Claire is one of the volunteers at Time to Talk Befriending (TTTB), a network which matches ‘befrienders’ with vulnerable older people in Brighton, Adur and Worthing who would otherwise have minimal or no other social contact.

Claire was matched up to her ‘befriendee’, Cheryl, six years ago and continues to have an incredible bond and friendship with her.

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The pair have the same birthday, 30 years apart, and Claire said: “We celebrate every year together and go out for some food.

Time to Talk Befriending has been described as 'a lifeline'Time to Talk Befriending has been described as 'a lifeline'
Time to Talk Befriending has been described as 'a lifeline'

“We’ve been friends through both of my pregnancies and she loves to see my sons too when it’s possible.”

Claire said befriending had been ‘one of the best volunteering projects I’ve ever been part of’.

“You can form an amazing friendship with someone you may never have met otherwise and it is something you can continue with as long as you wish,” she said.

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The organisation has stepped up its operations during the pandemic, and Claire said: “The charity’s response to COVID-19 has made me more proud than ever to be a part of Time To Talk Befriending.

“I have made a new telephone befriending match, which has been lovely, and it’s been wonderful to see all the outreach programmes the charity have been involved with.”

Referrals to the service have shot up during the lockdown, according to chief executive Emily Kenward, who founded TTTB in Brighton in 2013.

A recent report has found that ‘lockdown loneliness’ has affected more than seven million people in Britain.

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Single and widowed people were more likely to feel lonely during lockdown (53 per cent and 51.2 per cent respectively), as well as those who are divorced or separated from a civil partner (53.2 per cent), according to the report by the Office of National Statistics.

Ms Kenward: “Our members were isolated and experiencing loneliness even before the crisis hit.

“For many, our volunteers were their only social visitor.”

In Worthing, the number of referrals has increased by four and the charity is now supporting 97 older people living in the borough, the majority aged 80 years old or above.

The organisations also opened its service in Adur during the crisis.

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Feedback from service users in the early stages of the pandemic highlighted an overwhelming response for emotional support from the staff team, regular telephone befriending from volunteers who used to visit at home and for practical help with food/shopping and setting up prescription deliveries.

Ms Kenward said the service adapted quickly in order to meet these needs.

This week, TTTB received a £22,000 National Lottery grant to help it meet the surge in demand for support.

Ms Kenward said: “When we first started to identify other areas of need in Sussex, Adur and Worthing were in the highest risk for isolation and scam fraud among the older population.

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“It therefore feels like a privilege to extend our befriending service into neighbouring West Sussex which for many experiencing loneliness is proven to be a life-line.

“We are thankful to the National Lottery for enabling us to engage and connect with older people, volunteers and partners in the area so that we can tackle this serious issue of loneliness together.”

Helen Bushell, Head of Funding for South East at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Loneliness is affecting people from all walks of life while we are physically apart in these difficult times.

“The incredible groups we fund are a powerful force for good – supporting people to connect, reducing feelings of isolation and helping communities come together in new and inspiring ways.”

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