Gosport befriending service continues to support vulnerable people over the phone

Gosport Voluntary Action’s face-to-face befriending service has transformed into a telephone service while volunteers are unable to visit people in their homes.

In partnership with Gosport Borough Council, the voluntary organisation has a small but dedicated team of staff supporting the community response volunteers who undertake around 100 shopping trips for vulnerable or shielded adults each week, along with collecting prescriptions.

Aileen Doidge is one of a team of 10 befriender volunteers, and is continuing to support the lady she befriends, now by telephone.

The 66-year-old retired three years ago from the civil service, and soon began to miss the company of her work colleagues and wanted to do something meaningful alongside her hobbies of reading and watching sci-fi.

Aileen said: ‘My late mum who lived in Scotland, is always in my thoughts - she was very poorly and housebound, was very lonely and looked forward to her cleaner coming in who, by the way, talked more than cleaned!

‘So I thought if there was something I could do to cheer up a lonely person [that] would be great.’

After her daughter told her about the befriending service, Aileen signed up and was paired with an older resident.

‘One to two hours out of my week is nothing but it is her whole week,’ Aileen said.

‘The smile on my lady’s face when she opens the door is priceless. No money could buy it. It also gives me a good feeling that I am in a small way making a difference in someone's life.’

If anyone is or knows someone who is isolated or in need of Gosport Voluntary Action’s telephone befriending service, particularly during the Covid-19 period, they can contact Gosport’s Community Helpline on weekdays from 9am to 5pm on (023) 9254 5588.

It is the same contact number for anyone who would like to volunteer to become a befriending volunteer during this period too.

More information about other services and other volunteer roles can be found at gva.org.uk.

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