The Gift of Friendship in Stockport

Reducing social isolation, improving wellbeing and helping people to re-connect in the community is the aim of Age UK Stockport’s Gift of Friendship program.

The face-to-face companionship service matches a volunteer with an older resident who they visit once a week in their own home to provide a friendly chat and a listening ear. Their interaction is a targeted six-month period rather than open ended. This is because the aim of the project is to help people become more connected, confident and supported in their community and volunteers are encouraged to help the person that they are visiting to start attending local groups so that when the six months are over, the person has regained their confidence and those all-important community connections. 

The Gift of Friendship Lead Sally Connor states: “The project targets people who may have lost their confidence during covid, due to a health condition or bereavement and helps them regain their independence.”

Age UK Stockport are looking for volunteers right across Stockport that would be able to give just an hour a week to change the life of an isolated older resident. All volunteers are DBS checked and asked to complete some online training and are supported by the Gift of Friendship Team throughout.  

Alison is one such Gift of Friendship volunteer and stated: ‘I really enjoy volunteering for Age UK Stockport. It feels such a worthwhile thing to do when so many older people need companionship and Age UK Stockport matched us very well as we share similar interests and both look forward to the weekly visit’.

If you would like to change the life of an older Stockport resident, please email: volunteer@ageukstockport.org.uk or call: 0161 480 1211.