Befriending Service - North Northamptonshire
Our befriending service in North Northamptonshire addresses the issue of loneliness and isolation among individuals aged 65 and older.
Through referrals from various sectors, we connect volunteer befrienders with older people who do not have a support network. This service aims to enable older individuals to continue living independently in their homes. The impact of befriending is substantial, fostering supportive relationships and significantly reducing feelings of isolation.
Our volunteers commit to long-term support, making weekly visits to build friendships, offer assistance, and alleviate social isolation. The matching process considers individual interests, skills, and experiences to create meaningful connections and enhance the overall wellbeing of older residents.
Become a befriender and make a difference in your community
- Volunteer Befrienders Needed:
- Seeking volunteers across North Northamptonshire for the role of Volunteer Befriender.
- Matched with a befriendee from our waiting list.
- Weekly face-to-face or telephone conversations.
- Providing companionship and fostering community connections.
- Volunteers play a crucial role in serving the communities.
- Opportunity to change the lives of lonely and isolated individuals.
- How to Enquire:
- Contact the office on 01933 315 555 (Option 4) for questions or an informal chat about the role.
- Email Befriending Coordinators for more information details below.
- Geographical Areas:
- Seeking volunteers for East Northants, Wellingborough, Kettering, and Corby.
- Application Process:
- Download the Volunteer Befriender Role Description and Application Form.
- Email completed forms to:
- Cheryl Smith (East Northants / Wellingborough): cheryl.smith@serve.org.uk
- Jenni Anker (Kettering / Corby): jenni.anker@serve.org.uk
How to refer into the befriending service
We ask that completed referrals are emailed to either Cheryl or Jenni depending on location. This will enable us to make contact with the person as soon as possible.
Befriending Coordinator East Northants and Wellingborough:
cheryl.smith@serve.org.uk | Telephone: 07764 560863
Befriending Coordinator Kettering & Corby:
jenni.anker@serve.org.uk | Telephone: 07711 185917
So we can prioritise, please state full the reason for referral and make sure the referred person has given consent to share information with SERVE Befriending Service.
Our referral form can be downloaded below
life stories project
create your digital life story
As part of the delivery of befriending, we are now providing the digital life stories person focussed project for people aged 65+ which we aim to help people express themselves by encouraging them to tell their stories in a way that collects their thoughts, memories, images and videos together in one place.
A digital life story book, specially designed for ease of use and recording what is important to you. Create books, add photos and share with family or friends. It includes a “This is Me” area where you can include information that is important to you, like your routine, physical health or how you take your tea. Everything in your book is kept securely and shared only with the people you choose. We want to be advocates to enable people to share their wealth of knowledge and information to help connect them with their community.
If you work within Age Well Teams, Social Prescribing or part of the wider Befriending Service, you can make a referral for someone who would be interested in creating their digital life story. Referral form provided below.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the life stories project, you can download a role description and application form below or contact:
- Martin (Coordinator, West Northamptonshire) 07586 672983 or martin.wilkes@serve.org.uk
- Carol (Coordinator, North Northamptonshire) 07586 672982 or carol.soames@serve.org.uk
Working in partnership with Integrated Care Northamptonshire and VerseOne.
Integrated Care Northamptonshire
SERVE are working with Integrated Care Northamptonshire to deliver Befriending Support to Vulnerable Adults across the whole county.
Integrated care is about giving people the support they need, joined up across the NHS, local councils, voluntary and community organisations, and other partners.
Northamptonshire befriending service partners
serve
SERVE's Befriending Project delivers befriending across North Northamptonshire which include East Northants, Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby
daventry & south northants
Daventry Volunteer Centre's Happy at Home project delivers befriending in Daventry and South Northants
northampton
Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire's Happy at Home project delivers befriending in Northampton, NN1 - NN5
northamptonshire carers
Northamptonshire Carers offers a befriending sitting service to support informal carers
Volunteer Action
Volunteer Action offer group befriending sessions across North East Northants and Corby
AGE UK Northamptonshire
Age UK Northamptonshire have partnered with SERVE to offer the Community Responders Project. This service aims to provide company, reassurance and low level support to an older vulnerable person in their own home when a delay is anticipated for Primary or Secondary care support.
countywide befriending service
befriending service review 2021/22
Over the past 12 months, the Countywide Befriending Service has come together drawing on the strengths, place-based knowledge, and quality of service across the partners.
Serve is working with Integrated Care Northamptonshire (formerly Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership) to lead and deliver Befriending Support to Vulnerable Adults across the whole county. We are working in partnership with Daventry Volunteer Centre, Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire, and Northamptonshire Carers to upscale befriending as part of Integrated Care Across Northamptonshire.
The befriending service countywide functions as a key service to support locality-based services, forming a service model that tackles isolation for older people.
The first annual review I hope will help capture key outputs and outcomes that show the journey of challenge, change and celebrate achievements.
You can download a copy of the review below.