Remuneration: Unpaid (approved expenses reimbursed)
Commitment: Up to 6 months
Approx. 30-60 mins weekly/fortnightly

Background

Following the period of restrictions imposed by the pandemic we currently have a backlog of people waiting for befriending assessments and matches. Demand for our in person befriending currently outstrips the number of volunteer befrienders we have available. We are exploring a number of ways that we can address this, and one idea is to offer a telephone buddy who will keep in regular contact while service users wait for their in-person match.

About the role of telephone buddy

As a volunteer telephone buddy, you will make regular calls to an older person. Your role will be to offer them a listening ear, to check on their general wellbeing and to engage with them in friendly conversation.

To be a telephone buddy, you need a friendly personality and excellent listening and communication skills. You will also be empathetic and reliable.

While we ask for up to 6 months’ commitment, it is possible that telephone buddying may last for a shorter length of time. This will depend on how quickly a suitable in-person befriender is found for the older person. The telephone buddying role is intended to be light-touch and limited in time.

If you are an existing Link Age Southwark volunteer and would like to find out more about this role please contact [email protected] or call 020 8299 2623.

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How do I apply?

If you are new to Link Age Southwark and would like to become a Telephone Buddy please complete our application form here.

If you would prefer, you can also download our application form here and email to [email protected]