Volunteers' Week blog: Volunteering as an Age Scotland Friendship Caller has been nothing short of brilliant

Hearing a friendly voice at the end of the phone can be all it takes to turn someone’s day around, especially for an older person who’s feeling isolated and alone.

Age Scotland’s friendship services are committed to being there for every older person who needs us and recently we’ve been delighted to welcome new volunteers to our free friendship line through our partnership with Scottish Water.

This Volunteers’ Week, Gillian H, part of the first group to join us from Scottish Water, kindly shares her experiences making calls for Age Scotland so far.

"Each week I spend up to an hour speaking with people who feel alone in the world. It’s incredible how a simple phone call can make an immense difference to those who feel lonely and need a friend. Knowing someone will be calling to find out how they are, what they have been up to and be genuinely interested in them and their life is what this service offers, and I have seen first-hand how invaluable it is to those in need.

"The calls themselves are just like calling up an old friend for a blether. The range of topics conversations you can cover are vast and, while sometimes people need a friendly ear to share their worries or concerns, there is also plenty of laughter and joy too.

"The upfront training and guidance throughout was expertly handled and I have felt completely supported throughout.

"We all lead busy lives, but dedicating an hour each week to support someone else’s wellbeing is well worth finding time for. I encourage anyone to think about they could make time to be a friend to someone who really needs one."