Elderpark Housing and the No.1 Befriending Agency have been working together to tackle isolation and loneliness in communities for over two years – including during the pandemic.

Now with face-to-face meetings having returned, the vital service has been relaunched with an appeal for people who can make use of it and volunteers who can befriend others to come forward.

This week at a celebratory relaunch held at Elderpark Housing’s offices in Govan local people were given an insight into the impressive work of the No.1 Befriending Agency.

The Agency - which is Glasgow based - recruits volunteers to telephone and visit isolated older people and spend some time with them to have a chat, a cup of tea, and to hear their stories.

Befriending calls and visits are tremendously helpful in tackling the problem of loneliness and isolation, because they show people that others care about them and that they have somebody that they can talk to. Befrienders can also serve as a link to a wider network of support available for vulnerable people and can ring the alarm bells if, for example, a person experiences any undue harm. For people without family members close by, this support can be invaluable.

It also runs group befriending sessions where volunteers and befrienders can get together both in person and online.

The link-up with Elderpark Housing was forged in February 2020 thanks to funding obtained by Elderpark Housing from the “Investing in Communities” Fund set up by the Scottish Government.

This came immediately prior to the first pandemic lockdown and while the befriending work continued much of it was done over the phone and online focusing with a strong focus being on digital connectivity over the last two years.

Now with face-to-face meetings back, both Elderpark Housing and The No.1 Befriending Agency are encouraging people to become involved.

Jonathan Giddings-Reid, community regeneration officer at Elderpark Housing, said: “We are delighted to have fully resumed our link-up with the No.1 Befriending Agency and applaud the way it continued to deliver a befriending service during the last two years – adapting to a more phone and digital-focused approach.

“But nothing beats the interaction of face-to-face friendship. Our event was an ideal opportunity for us to showcase just what is on offer to people who are isolated or lonely and also to potential volunteer befrienders who can reach out and offer befriending to others.”

Aidan McGuiness, Elderpark’s director of housing & customer services, said: “We greatly value our association with the No.1 Befriending Agency and the help it brings to many people living in the communities Elderpark Housing serves. The work of this project was made possible with a significant financial contribution from the Scottish Government’s Investing in Communities Fund for which we are immensely grateful.”

Shonagh Hendry, operations manager at the No.1 Befriending Agency, said: ”Our team were delighted to meet Elderpark residents at the event for tea and conversation and to provide further information on our befriending service. For Hannah McMillan, on her first day in her new role as Volunteer Coordinator, it was a great opportunity to meet everyone and hear residents’ hopes and aspirations for the project going forward. At the No 1 Befriending Agency, with our experience of partnership working with Elderpark Housing Association, we are excited to look forward and hopefully work in this manner with other housing associations.”

Two of those attending the event were Wanda Stalinska and Ela Belczak - both of whom are originally from Poland. They both signed up for the service, appropriately over a cup of tea.

Wanda said: “This is a great idea. We enjoyed coming along to learn more. We were delighted to receive the befriending offer and look forward to meeting new people.”