Befriending is a service available to those who are living in isolation with a life-shortening condition.
There are many people in our community who are not able to live as independently as they would like due to living with a palliative condition.
A volunteer Befriender can offer you companionship through regular visits, emotional and often practical support, and help to re-establish a link to the wider community.
Often, a Befriender will visit you weekly, sometimes more often. They are there to be a friend, so they may sit in with you, chat and have a cup of tea. Or you may decide to go out for a drive, visit a garden centre or share a meal together.
Each Befriending relationship is different, just as each one of us is different. So we match you on your needs and abilities, likes and dislikes, along with practical considerations, such as where you live and how often you would like someone to visit.
How can I access this service?
Access to our Befriending service is by referral, so please speak to your link at St Luke’s Nurse. Or your referral may come from the Macmillan Community Team or Rehabilitation Team.
For more information please contact Wendy Hind, our Befriending Co-ordinator, by calling 01606 555687, or email wendy.hind@slhospice.co.uk
