Befriending Service Project

In 2015 Merton Council commissioned a three year pilot 'befriending scheme' where volunteers work one to one to engage older people who may be isolated or lonely. The aim of the pilot was to reduce social isolation and the scheme was open to Merton Residents aged 65 years and older who are either housebound, live alone, have a long term condition and who are isolated from social networks; with priority given to those who live alone and were housebound. The model allowed for 'face to face' and telephone befriending with 'face to face' befriending being universally more popular.