Find a Friend
For some being able to find a friend is impossible, without a little help. Shut in their home 24/7 unable to get out and about by themselves, with no visitors they rely on the occasional telephone conversation, often with the local GP surgery or another agency just to have useful contact with someone, with anyone.
Fran, not her real name, is in desperate need of a ‘friend’ to call in and see her on a regular basis. She spends most of her week alone at home unable to go out by herself. Most of the time is spent listening to the radio or sometimes watching the TV but it is not as clear as it used to be. Reading isn’t an option for her. She loves to chat, especially about the old times and misses her friends but most of them have gone now. She will from time to time call the GP or sometimes the kind lady from Social Services who visited but really she just wants to chat.
Evergreen Sleaford, have been finding friends for people like Fran for 12 years now and will soon have set in place their 250th friendship in that time. They can help people like Fran but only with your help. Each Volunteer Befriender gives up 1-2 hours each week to visit and spend time with their ‘friend’. How they use that time is up to the ‘friends’ to decide between them but it will be the highlight of the week for those like Fran, you can be certain.
Evergreen Sleaford have a waiting list of people like Fran in Sleaford and a 10-mile radius of Sleaford and are eager to place a friend with each of them as soon as possible. You really can help. Simply contact the Evergreen Sleaford Coordinator via the website www.evergreensleaford.org.uk , by email at evergreen.sleaford@gmail.com or telephone us on 07707 260822.
What Befrienders have to say about what they do.
Those who have taken up the challenge to invest just a little of their time befriending someone they might not otherwise have met have this to say about what they do:-
“I chose to become a befriender as when I worked as a district nurse many elderly people I saw were lonely and would have appreciated this service. This is a two-way process as I enjoy my time with my Befriendee.”
“I joined to make a difference to someone’s life, which has been achieved. By doing so I have a feeling of satisfaction - the ‘feel good factor’.”
“As a very busy person I was concerned I may be taking on too much but it has had the opposite effect and helped to slow me down!””
I retired and wanted to do something useful with my time. Going to see my Befriendee is positive for both of us as she lives outside the town in a very rural area and rarely sees anyone in the day.”
“In my job as a carer I could only support people. Evergreen enables friendships.”
“Without doubt befriending has a positive benefit to both parties. My befriendee feels less isolated, like she matters and has a warm and caring relationship in her life.“
“I enjoy helping to raise his spirits.”
“I love to see her face light up with a smile when I arrive.”
I wonder what you might say about a friend you discover through Evergreen Sleaford, whether after just a few months or many years of friendship? We are in the friendship business for the long haul, having completed our 12th year and almost 250 individual friendships. What about you? Could you join us to make someone’s life truly different?
Simply contact the Evergreen Sleaford Coordinator via the website www.evergreensleaford.org.uk , by email at evergreen.sleaford@gmail.com or telephone us on 07707 260822.