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 Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) 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.
Befriending Service Review 2021-22 (pdf)
DownloadWe need VOLUNTEER BEFRIENDERS across North Northamptonshire.
As a Volunteer Befriender, you will be matched up with a befriendee on our waiting list, spending time together every week face to face or by telephone. You will provide much needed companionship with the opportunity to connect with the local community.
If you have any questions about volunteering with us or would like to have an informal chat about the role before you apply, please contact the office on 01933 315 555. Alternatively, you can email one of our Befriending Coordinators - details on poster.
We are always looking for volunteers to step forward for this worthwhile project as we continue to serve the communities of East Northants, Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby.
Help us to change the lives of lonely, isolated people. Help make a difference
If you would like to become a VOLUNTEER BEFRIENDER in Corby, Kettering, East Northants or Wellingborough you can download our Volunteer Befriender Role Description and Application Form below. Please email completed forms to:
Cheryl Smith (East Northants / Wellingborough) cheryl.smith@serve.org.uk
Sonia Stewart (Kettering / Corby) sonia.stewart@serve.org.uk
By completing the application form, you give your consent to SERVE to process the data supplied for the purpose of recruitment and selection. SERVE will protect all information in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation including the Data Protection Act 2018.
All data will be held securely and confidentially and will only be accessed by authorised individuals.
Befriending Coordinator: Cheryl Smith
Telephone: 07764 560863
We ask that completed referrals for East Northants and Wellingborough be emailed to Cheryl. This will enable us to make contact with the person as soon as possible.
So we can prioritise, please state fully 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
Befriending Coordinator: Sonia Stewart sonia.stewart@serve.org.uk
Telephone: 07711 185917
We ask that completed referrals for Kettering & Corby be emailed to Sonia. This will enable us to make contact with the person as soon as possible.
So we can prioritise, please state fully 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
THANK YOU!
We are grateful for the support of EVERYONE who shared with us celebrating what #BefriendingIs. We will continue to raise awareness with passion, drive and creativity.
Many older people living in their own homes can become isolated and lonely, but with a regular weekly visit; perhaps to read the paper to a visually impaired person, to play cards, have a conversation, share past memories and explore what is important to the person.
Befriending is helping reduce social isolation and improve the health & wellbeing for people who are lonely, isolated and frail by providing a visiting service to residents in their own homes.
Serve are working with the Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) to deliver and lead on Befriending Support to Vulnerable Adults across the whole county.
You can contact Serve on 01933 315 555 or jonathan.cook@serve.org.uk for more information or to direct you to your nearest Befriending Service.
Research shows that older people living on their own risk loneliness and social isolation and need more emotional support, companionship and timely support to sustain their mental and physical wellbeing.
Issues to be addressed include:
• Social isolation and disconnection from communities; feelings of emotional loneliness and poor mental wellbeing.
• Health and social inequalities - barriers to accessing support.
• Making unnecessary GP and /or A&E visits.
Our befriending service helps to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness for older people across North Northamptonshire, enabling individuals to remain living independently in their own home. The results of befriending can be very significant.
We receive referrals from statutory, private, and voluntary sectors for older people 65+ who are lonely, isolated, and frail. Befriending offers supportive, reliable relationships through volunteer befrienders to people who would otherwise be socially isolated.
The reality is, not everyone has a family or friend support network that they can rely on for guidance and advice to help them through difficult times. Volunteers can help fill this gap by offering free time and providing support. volunteers will help over a long period of time, helping to build trust and a relationship.
Volunteer befrienders make regular visits, once a week, to an older person and look to build friendships, offer support, and help people to feel less isolated socially. Volunteers and residents are matched, and this takes on board person-centred support including individual's interests, skills, and experiences.
Volunteer Ambassador Video
Serve are working with the Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) to deliver Befriending Support to Vulnerable Adults across the whole county.
SERVE's Befriending Project delivers befriending across North Northamptonshire which include East Northants, Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby
Daventry Volunteer Centre's Happy at Home project delivers befriending in Daventry and South Northants
Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire's Happy at Home project delivers befriending in Northampton, NN1 - NN5
Northamptonshire Carers offers a befriending sitting service to support informal carers