MHA
About MHA
MHA is an award-winning charity that inspires the best care and support at every stage in later life.
Telephone befriending can help to bring the outside world in for an older person who is feeling lonely or isolated. In a recent survey 99% of members and 87% of volunteers reported improved mental health and 86% of members and 85% of volunteers reported increased confidence as a result of MHA Befriending services.
Our LGBTQ+ telephone befriending service has been developed with support from the MHA Pride Network to address the greater risk of loneliness and depression that older LGBTQ+ people may face.
MHA Befriending offer a telephone befriending service in all areas of England, Scotland and Wales. Face-to-face befriending may be available in areas where we have a local MHA Communities scheme.
England, DE1 2EQ
Service Eligibility
Anyone can refer an older person to the service – yourself, family members, GPs, health visitors, nurses or even a next-door neighbour. Please ensure that you have the permission of the person being referred.
Our service is aimed at people 55 and over and calls are intended to be conversational. We support older people with a variety of needs but please be aware that the aim of the service is to reduce loneliness and isolation. Our volunteers are given full training, but are not able to provide specialised support or counselling.
Due to high levels of demand, MHA is temporarily unable to accept new applications for our national telephone befriending service.
Information for Volunteers
If you are passionate about enabling older people to live later life well, MHA is the place for you. We are a national charity inspiring the best care at every stage of later life. It is our mission to enable people to live later life well and you could help us achieve this. A regular phone call or visit can make all the difference to an older person experiencing social isolation or loneliness and this is where you can help.
As a MHA volunteer befriender you will be matched with an older person to stay in touch, share news and have a friendly chat. We’re looking for committed and compassionate volunteers to help make a difference to the older people we care for and support.
If you would be able to commit a minimum of 30 minutes once a week, for a minimum of six months, please click on ‘More Information’ to find out more and apply.
More InformationAge Groups
Older Adults (65+)Themes
Sexuality/Gender Identity, Older PeopleRegions
Country: National
Other Information
Type of Befriending: Distance befriending including telephone, video call, letter writing or other means, 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