HOPe – Helping Older People New Forest
About HOPe – Helping Older People New Forest
Helping Older People New Forest is charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing of older people.
Alongside our Support service, providing impartial advice and information on matters affecting older people, we are helping to tackle loneliness with our free Befriending service.
We take the time to get to know the older people who are suffering from loneliness and social isolation and have turned to us for help. We work hard to introduce them to one of our volunteer befrienders who shares similar interests and experiences. The result is a match where both people naturally enjoy each other’s company, and over time, can develop into a strong friendship.
“Thank you very much for introducing me to my befriender. I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I do, and she is my rock. So, thank you!”
1a, Kingsbury's Lane, Ringwood, England, BH24 1EL
Service Eligibility
Our Befriending Service covers the New Forest area, as well as surrounding towns and villages. We help older people aged 65 to 105, and beyond!
We provide face-to-face befriending, with volunteers regularly visiting older people in their own homes for a chat – tea and cake are often involved.
For many of the older people we help, seeing their befriender is the only social interaction they will have in a week. The small act of meeting someone regularly to talk about anything and everything can have a big impact on their wellbeing.
“I moved here to be near friends who have since died. Before having my befriender, every day was the same: get up, stare at four walls, see nobody, go to bed, and repeat the day after. Seeing her has transformed my life, and I cannot begin to express my thanks for everything you have done.”
Information for Volunteers
We rely on volunteers to help us deliver our services. You can get involved by becoming a befriender and brightening up the life of a lonely older person.
We typically ask volunteers to regularly visit their matched older person for an hour each week. However, it is a flexible role, and we trust volunteers and their matched older person will settle on a schedule that works best for them both.
Our volunteers have a genuine interest in helping people and an enthusiasm for our services. We need people who can work well in isolation and be flexible and adaptable. Befrienders need to be kind and compassionate listeners with a friendly and approachable manner, and must understand the importance of being reliable and trustworthy.
You can apply online via our website, email befriending@hopenewforest.org, or call 01425 705 997 to speak to one of our Befriending Coordinators to find out more.
More InformationAge Groups
Older Adults (65+)Themes
Older PeopleRegions
Country: England
Other Regions: South West England
Other Information
Type of Befriending: Face to face befriending which takes place in the home or community
Who can refer: Self Referrals Accepted, Friends & Family Referrals Accepted, Professional Referrals Accepted