Befriending
Across West Dunbartonshire many people live alone and can often feel isolated. The reasons for this vary – they may have difficulty leaving the house alone, have no close family or friends, or have lost confidence after illness or a life-change.
Be-side Befriending, is a volunteer-led service supporting West Dunbartonshire residents, aged 60 years and above, experiencing loneliness and isolation.
Betty
"I value being independent, but things do get more difficult. When the opportunity came up to join the service I said Yes!"
‘Be-Line’ Telephone Check-in
This service offers a scheduled telephone support call. It can be helpful as:
- A check-in for people who have just been discharged from a hospital admission or during a period of bad weather
- A gentle introduction to face-to-face/group services for people feeling unsure or with low confidence
- An interim support where a waiting list is in place for face-to-face service.
‘Be-Side’ 1-To-1
The in-person befriending service is of most benefit to local residents experiencing isolation associated with later-life issues such as bereavement, family-distance, diminishing health or reducing mobility. As this service is always in demand, we will look to prioritise those likely to benefit most from the service.
Befrienders are volunteers, who bring a variety of life experiences, skills and interests. Each is interviewed, reference checked and required to join the Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme, before being matched with a local resident.
Could you give a few hours a week to help? If you would like to get involved or just find out more, contact us by emailing volunteering@wdcvs.com or by calling the helpline on 0141 941 0886.
Ashleigh - Volunteer Befriender
"It's so rewarding. You get to meet some wonderful people, and you actually learn a lot from it."
Service for yourself or a family member
If you feel the services may be useful for yourself or someone close to you, then please get in touch.
Our team are happy to answer your questions and if relevant, help you complete the referral form, either by a planned telephone call or in-person appointment.
If we are unable to provide a service, through our Ask Access hub, we will look to help you secure an alternative support.
Making a Referral – Referral Partners
We also accept referrals from a range of partner agencies across West Dunbartonshire, including Community Link Workers, Care at Home services, AHPs, GPs and Hospital Discharge Teams.
If we are unable to provide a service, through our Ask Access hub, we will look to help you secure an alternative support.
You can access the referral form here.
Service Status: We are currently accepting new referrals.
Service Status: Unfortunately, the service is currently closed to new referrals. We expect to review this on November 1st.