Hope Benfriending Project
Incorporating and Older Peoples Information and Advisory Service
We are living in a society with an increasingly ageing population and as a result, a growing number of older are living in isolation and loneliness.
This can be caused by a number of factors:
- Retirement and loss of contact with work colleagues
- Families can be scattered worldwide
- Moving house
- Death of spouse, friends, family
- Frailty and ill health
- Low income – reducing life choices
Our new befriending service for older people will tackle the high levels of isolation and loneliness experienced by many older people in North Ayrshire in two ways. A volunteer befriender will visit them regularly for 1-2 hours per week in their own homes. Our befrienders will also encourage engagement in activities and events, which will lead to the development of new relationships
Our confidential Information and Advisory service will provide information on a wide range of issues relevant to older people. We will help them to access support services and ensure that they are in receipt of all available benefits and entitlements. By providing both of these services, we will help older people to improve their health and wellbeing, enable them to make informed lifestyle choices, become more confident in controlling their lives and maintaining their independence within the community.
In order to achieve our goals, we need to recruit and train a dedicated group of volunteers.We need your help in order to help some of the
most vulnerable people in our communities!
Cathy McGregor, HOPE Befriending Co-ordinator Tel. 01294 602711
E-mail cathy@clasps.org.uk
