Blog: Feeling connected through Age Scotland's friendship services
Tackling loneliness and isolation has always been a key priority at Age Scotland, with recent statistics revealing that 218,000 over 50s in Scotland feel lonely all or most of the time. While the past two years have been difficult for everyone, we have continued to support older people through our friendship services.
One call can make a huge difference, especially to those who live alone, who don’t have family nearby or who can't get online. Our Friendship Line is available Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm to listen, have a blether and offer support. We also offer weekly calls of friendship and companionship to people who are 50 and over who feel they would benefit from a regular chat. In 2021, our volunteers provided 2,763 friendship calls ranging from current interests, hobbies, top tier biscuits, time travel – the list is endless. We have even had our fair share of singing and poetry recitals on these calls!
Words matter and they help us to stay connected. Celebrating their 400th circle in March this year, our Comradeship Circles offer members of the ex-service community to come together and engage in regular camaraderie over the phone. Group calls typically consist of six people who chat together at the same time and on the same day each week or fortnight. The service is free and open to HM Armed Forces regulars, reservists, National Servicemen and Merchant Navy that have supported a UK military operation. It is also available to partners, widows and widowers.
With an ageing population and a digital divide, we understand the difficulties many people may face in accessing information on local groups and services. Our Community Connecting service will be relaunching this year with the aim to connect older people to organisations that offer friendship, social activities, health and fitness groups and events. Over a period of weeks or longer if required, our volunteers will make regular weekly calls to talk through someone’s interests, have a friendly chat and offer encouragement.
If you are interested in any of our friendship services, or would like to add your organisation to our database, please get in touch by phoning our free helpline on 0800 12 44 222 or emailing helpline@agescotland.org.uk - give us a call and feel connected again.
If you have a few spare hours each week and would like to make a positive difference to the lives of older people, our friendship services are currently looking for new volunteers. With a variety of positions available, both remote and in-person, there's an opportunity to suit everyone. Find out more and apply at www.age.scot/volunteer.
