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As a volunteer telephone buddy, you will make regular calls to an older person. Your role will be to offer them a listening ear, to check on their general wellbeing and to engage with them in friendly conversation. The aim of the role is to provide friendship to an older person in Southwark who is experiencing feelings of loneliness.
We ask for volunteers to commit to volunteering weekly to make one phone call a week, though often a phone call can be much shorter than this.
It is a chance to get to know someone in your community who might have a different outlook on life! You will hear interesting stories and perspectives that may make your own world a little richer, whilst experiencing the joy of making a friend. Through this, you will be playing a vital part in easing the loneliness and isolation of an older person and help them get the best from life.
To be a telephone buddy, you need a friendly personality and excellent listening and communication skills. You will also be empathetic and reliable.
While we ask for up to 6 months’ commitment, it is possible that telephone buddying may last for a shorter length of time. This will depend on how quickly a suitable in-person befriender is found for the older person. The telephone buddying role is intended to be light-touch and limited in time.
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