‘Such a rewarding role’: Call for more volunteers to offer friendship in Caithness and north Sutherland
A call has gone out for new volunteers to help meet the growing demand for a service that seeks to reduce loneliness in the far north.
Befriending Caithness matches volunteers to adults aged 40 and over and offers vital social contact to those who may otherwise feel isolated, working on a one-to-one basis and also in group settings such as lunches.
Existing volunteers find it “such a rewarding role” – but more helpers are needed, with around 100 service users at present.
The free service offers provides supported friendships across Caithness and north Sutherland and has been delivered by Wick-based Caithness Voluntary Group since 2011.
It is staffed by senior coordinator Elspeth Manson and assistant coordinator Richard Thurling, along with administrative assistant Kayleigh Sinclair.
“We currently have around 100 service users,” Elspeth explained. “This number covers both our one-to-one matches and our lunch club and group members.
“We have 41 volunteers – these again are a mixture of both one-to-one matched befrienders and group befrienders. We have some befrienders who have two service users they are matched one-to-one with, and some of our group befrienders are matched one-to-one as well.
“We are always short of volunteers and the existing ones are fantastic in their efforts to make a difference. We are on a recruitment drive for volunteers as the demand for our service has outstripped our volunteer capacity.”
Richard said: “The reason there is a need for befriending is sometimes people get isolated and secluded within the community, for a variety of reasons – maybe they have no family, maybe they have health issues.
“Also there is a dearth of opportunities available for socialising within Caithness, especially for older people with health or mobility issues.
“Our volunteers will attend the home address of our service users, once a week, for a cup of tea and a good blether. There is no care involved at all – it is social interaction our volunteers offer.
“It is the same volunteer each week, so a good strong friendship can develop. Some matches are short-term, others are long-term – some of our one-to-one matches have been established for over a decade.
“We attempt to match people with common interests or life experiences, so initial conversation is easy and relaxing. If possible, depending on the restrictions of each match, our volunteers may take their service user out for a drive, or to a favourite café, or for a walk.
“We find that as budgets are cut and services withdrawn we are increasingly filling the gap left behind.”
Referrals come from individuals themselves, their families, GP practices and other health and social care professionals.
“We are receiving new referrals constantly,” Richard pointed out. “We have a waiting list, and we need more volunteers to combat this.
“The key benefits of befriending are that we validate and value the individual’s life experiences and recognise the importance of a smile, a friendly face, a good conversation, a happy memory. We bring the world to people when they are maybe unable to go into the world themselves.”
Elspeth and Richard were both volunteers themselves prior to being employed in the service.
“The befriending relationships are mutually satisfying,” Elspeth said. “You are involved in conversations and interactions you would otherwise not be, and with our older service users the stories and memories they share are both entertaining and informative. It’s not burdensome – it’s a joy to do.”
Referrals can be taken for those aged 40-plus. There is no upper age limit, with many of the befriending community in their seventies, eighties or nineties.
When asked if it is rewarding to be involved, Elspeth said: “Absolutely – this is evidenced by our incredible volunteer retention, plus the regular feedback we receive during our catch-ups. Our volunteers find this such a rewarding role, they often recommend us to friends and comment regularly on the sheer enjoyment of the friendships they have.
“We also are able to refund expenses through donations we receive.
“To any potential volunteers, I would like to say please get in touch, come and find out more about what we do at Befriending Caithness. We are an organisation that really benefits the whole community.”
Elspeth and Richard can be contacted at elspeth@cvg.org.uk 07592 493045 or richard@cvg.org.uk (07592 493048).
All volunteers are PVG-checked and have to provide referees.
Elspeth added: “Contacting us leaves you under no obligation to go any further. Your volunteering involves no care whatsoever – it really is a simple role of offering supported friendships to people within our community.”