DONATERespite and Befriending Service
Respite and Befriending Service
Living with a long term health condition, affects you not just physically, but also emotionally and socially. People with long term health conditions, and their carers, often find themselves socially isolated and lacking in confidence as a result of the illness.
Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke's is piloting a new Respite and Befriending Service which aims to link volunteers with people who need support. The initial pilot is Big Lottery funded and will concentrate on people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD.
What is the 'Respite and Befriending' Service?
The Respite and Befriending Service provides a break from the normal routine. It is designed to benefit both the person with COPD and their carer.
Volunteer befrienders are ordinary people who play a very special role. Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke volunteer befrienders visit, or meet, people with COPD. They offer support and can act as a link between a person and their local community, adding another dimension to their social life.
Regular visits from a volunteer befriender can also allow a carer regular 'time off'.
How can the Service help?
Volunteer befriending can help:
- Reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness
- Increase feelings of self worth, confidence and trust
- Provide opportunities for new interests and involvement
- Give people something to look forward to
- Provide valuable respite for a carer
"Most of the time I am on my own... my volunteer befriender is a different voice and brings me news from the outside world."
"Before my husband had a volunteer befriender, I couldn't get to the shops to buy a newspaper, let alone read it... now I can and it means so much to me."
"I had a few spare hours in my week and decided to volunteer as a befriender. I enjoy the chat as much as the person I visit."
How can I get more information about the 'Respite and Befriending' Service?
Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke
21 Dublin Road
Belfast, BT2 7HB
Tel: 028 9032 0184
Email: befriending@nichs.org.uk
