Sometimes, older age can prove lonely. This is particularly true after a partner has died or when family live far away. Fortunately, in Surrey, there is a wealth of befriending services to ensure no elderly resident needs to feel alone.
Befriending services can be reassuring and help to bring peace of mind to concerned relatives, with different methods of communicating to suit each individual. People can speak over the telephone, have home visits or go to group meetings.
This guide will outline the options available in Surrey. In addition to befriending services, there are other ways to meet new people in Surrey. You may also be interested in our pages on Lunch Clubs in Surrey and Day Care Centres in Surrey.
Surrey Age UK: Check in & Chat Calls
Surrey Age UK offers a befriending service called Check in and Chat that aims to keep older people in the community connected and give them someone to talk to. Experienced co-ordinators of the service will match elderly people with a local volunteer who can visit their home, accompany them to community activities, or get in touch via telephone or Skype.
You can visit the website, or get in touch using the details provided below to find out further information about this service.
- Telephone: 01483 503414
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Surrey Age Concern Befriending Service
Most Age Concern groups merged with Age UK in 2009, however, three small and local Age Concern charities remain in Surrey and work independently to fight loneliness in elderly communities.
Banstead
Age Concern Banstead provide a visiting service to those who have difficulty getting out and about. Volunteers can pop in for a cup of tea and chat on a regular basis.
- Telephone: 01737 352156
- Visit Website
Surrey Heath
Surrey Heath Age Concern offers a Befriending Service for those who are lonely or socially isolated. They will connect people with a volunteer Befriender who will visit to provide companionship on a regular basis. Befrienders can visit you at home, go for a walk or a potter in the garden with you, help you to take up a new hobby or join a community group with you.
- Telephone: 01276 748882
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Woking
Woking Age Concern aims to alleviate feelings of loneliness through regular visits by volunteers. They can also arrange for ‘short-term friends’ to cover when other volunteers or family are on holiday.
- Telephone: 01483 770753
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Re-Engage Surrey: Calls Companion Service
Re-Engage is a national charity committed to fighting loneliness among the over 75s. Their Calls Companion service is a free programme for older people who are lonely, isolated or in need of companionship and feel they would enjoy a friendly phone call every week or two. Volunteers are matched with an older person by looking at hobbies and interests to find things in common.
A mutually agreed time is arranged for warm, friendly and informal chats a few times a month. Generally these chats last around half an hour. Over time, volunteers and the older person they are paired with get to know each other well.
Re-Engage also run a number of social and activity groups for over 75s. You can find out more about this on their website here.
For more information or to apply for the Calls Companion service, you can visit the Re-Engage website or get in touch with them using the details provided below.
- Telephone: 020 7240 0630
- Contact Form
- Visit Website
Mobility Specialists in Surrey
Age Space preferred mobility retailer
Wheelfreedom have the mobility solution for your needs, and you can try out a range of mobility scooters, powered and manual wheelchairs, rollators, rise and recliners and profiling beds for free in their Chessington showroom.
Or call them on 0800 008 6950.
