As people get older, they are more likely to feel lonely or isolated. Befriending services can make a huge difference to the lives of older people, offering companionship and checking in with them regularly about any concerns they may have. These services can come in many forms, from afternoon tea parties to an occasional phone call.
AgeSpace have compiled the following guide to the befriending services that are available in Kent.
Find a Helper for companionship and more with Good Life Sorted
Good Life Sorted will introduce you to a local Helper to take on any tasks you might need help with from companionship to cooking, from light cleaning to running errands.
Find Local Befriending Services Across Kent
Kent Coast Volunteering Good Neighbours Project
The Good Neighbours Service is a volunteer befriending service that aims to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation among elderly people in Dover, Thanet, Folkestone and Hythe. All of their volunteers are DBS checked and aim to build lasting friendships through regular visits. You can contact your local hub using the details below or visit their website for more details.
Dover
- Telephone: 07816 406 372
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Thanet
- Telephone: 07816 406 372
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Folkestone & Hythe
- Telephone: 07821 663 402
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Swale CVS - The Befriending Service
Swale CVS run a befriending service to provide one-to-one support for older people who are socially isolated. This service is only available to residents of Swale and is completely free to use. You are able to refer somebody to The Befriending Service yourself, with the consent of the person being referred.
- Telephone: 01795 473828
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
CARM Befriending Service - Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe
CARM offer a range of befriending services across Sussex and Kent; serving Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe. They offer home visits (weekly or fortnightly, for an hour or two), telephone calls (once or twice a week for 5-20 minutes) and an email befriending service which provides flexibility and convenience. All of these services are free.
For more information and to get involved you can visit their website or get in touch using the details provided below.
- Telephone: 01233 758122
- Contact Form
- Visit Website
Age UK Befriending Services
Many Age UK services in Kent offer a local befriending service. Their volunteers are trained with references and have an enhanced DBS check. These are all run slightly differently, so use the links below to visit the website of the branch most local to you.
- Canterbury Age UK Befriending Service
- Faversham & Sittingbourne Age UK Befriending Service
- Herne Bay & Whitstable Age UK Telephone Befriending Service
- Hythe, Lyminge & Ashford Age UK Befriending Service
- Maidstone Age UK Befriending Service
- Medway Age UK Befriending Service
- Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Age UK Community Befriending Service
- Sheppey Age UK Befriending Service
- South Kent Coast Age UK Telephone Befriending Service
- Thanet Age UK Telephone Befriending Service
- Tunbridge Wells Age UK Befriending Service
Age UK also offer a Telephone Friendship befriending service. They aim to match likeminded people with similar interests who will give them a weekly phone call. You can sign up for the Telephone Friendship service on the Age UK Website.
