Individual case study - Community Resources Team Befriending Scheme

The programme was established in 1996 to provide friendship and companionship for isolated, lonely and housebound older people aged 50 years+ living in the London Borough of Hackney (LBH). Volunteer befrienders are recruited from all sections of the community and are trained to support the programme.  This service is funded and provided by the London Borough of Hackney. Volunteer befrienders are supported, supervised, trained and rewarded by Befriending Officers employed by LBH. The befriending scheme’s main sources of referral are from Social Workers, Care Managers, Hospitals, GPs, housing and/or alarm services, family, friends, neighbours and also there are those who self-refer.

The client is a 70 year old male who is single and lives alone. He is a Methodist and is Afro-Caribbean. His only daughter visits from Friday to Monday most weeks. He has acute sight problems, high blood pressure and uses a stick to walk. He has some friends who call occasionally. 

The client has become more isolated recently due to his lack of mobility.  His home environment is dark and unkempt; he doesn’t put lights on in the dark as he has little sight. However he is positive and alert and has a range of interests including sport, music, news and current affairs. He also enjoys reminiscing about things. The client said “I wanted to try the befriending service just to see what was provided."

The client was matched with a 47 year old, male volunteer who is a Christian and UK Black. He was assigned to the client in January 2004.

Initially a three-way meeting was set up with the Befriending Officer, the volunteer and the client. The Befriending Officer introduced the volunteer to the client and arrangements were made for future visits which were agreed by both the volunteer and client.

“I feel I have gained a friend who shares some of my interests. I also feel I have been a source of information for the volunteer and that he himself has learnt more from our discussions regarding our different cultures, backgrounds and countries of origin” says the client. “I enjoy this experience of exchanging knowledge.” He feels needed, valued and important, especially when he is able to share information on topics his befriender is less knowledgeable about. 

“My befriender phones me quite often to see if I am ok and this makes me happy to know that someone other than a family member cares about me." As a result of this the client now feels less lonely and isolated.

The befriender also feels that he has developed as a result of being involved in the befriending relationship. He says: “I feel my skills have been greatly improved through the training and counselling I have received from the scheme. I have developed an interest in all aspects of confidentiality which has aided me in my studies.”

In addition his relationship with the client has become deeper and he feels they have ‘bridged the gap’ by an increased awareness and respect of each other’s background and culture. He also feels that he has learnt new things and has taken on a new interest, cricket, as a result of this relationship.

The Scheme Co-ordinator says that the befriender “…has been eager to embrace all the training we offer to volunteers; he has developed in confidence and has an improved understanding of issues relating to older people."

Name – Community Resource Team – Befriending Scheme
Project Type – Befriending
Location – London Borough of Hackney
Scheme Co-ordinator – Eric Anomah
Phone – 020 7249 1868 / 020 7275 7092