Befriending schemes offer companionship and support to people who feel lonely or isolated.
A number of voluntary organisations in the borough run befriending schemes using trained local volunteers. Some schemes can offer a borough wide service. These include:
Age UK BarnetAge Concern Barnet offer a home visiting service. Carefully vetted volunteers are matched with elderly residents who want and would benefit from regular companionship and emotional support. The volunteers then regularly visit their client in their homes for six months or more.
This organisation have set up a network of befriending throughout Barnet, specifically by using telephone contact. This project will enable everyone to be of help, with able, disabled and housebound members calling as befrienders from anywhere in the borough.
The borough's Good Neighbour Schemes also can provide befrienders to the lonely and housebound.
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