Case Study: Befriending Caithness

4th November 2024

Their befriending service offers isolated adults aged 40 and upwards in Caithness a chance to meet a friendly face on a weekly basis. They have been running since 2011 and have a team of 57 dedicated volunteers.

Their case study tells the story of a match between two avid fishermen whose friendship developed with each visit.

Losing independence

An active man previously, Sandy has had a full and exciting life, an avid fisherman, a tradesman and a family man. Sandy is now 90 years of age, has limited mobility due to a previous fall and is hard of hearing, a widower, he has no near family and can no longer drive. Sandy was lonely, isolated, and spent most of his day seated at his table looking out of his window. He was housebound, and reliant on others for essentials, a position he found difficult to reconcile with his previous independence.

A true friendship blossoms

Befriending Caithness met Sandy and discussed 1-1 matched befriending, Sandy was initially hesitant, needing help still sat uneasily with him, however he agreed to give it a go.

Befriending Caithness set up an initial meeting with Robert, another avid fisherman, and conversation flowed easily. 1-1 Befriending visits commenced weekly, they go out for drives around the local area, visiting old fishing haunts, seeing the changes in the area that had occurred since Sandy was last mobile. Sandy said:

“Initially we talked about fishing, but now we know each other well we talk about everything, all subjects”.

Sandy is currently in hospital, but his befriending visits continue, Robert gets as much out of the visits as Sandy does, a true friendship has blossomed.

The importance of the befriending relationship was summed up beautifully when Sandy’s daughter who phoned her father one day, unbeknown to her, during a befriending visit, and upon asking him “What are you up today?”, he replied:

“I’m out with my friend”