Volunteer Action
About Volunteer Action
Volunteer Action offers both a Face to Face Befriending Scheme and a Telephone Scheme. The Scheme operates within VA’s catchment area in North East Northamptonshire and supports isolated or lonely people who are in receipt of State Pension or have a disability or a life limiting illness. The Face to Face Scheme pairs up a member with a volunteer who will make regular visits to the member’s home. A matched volunteer will call once a week for a chat on the Telephone Befriending Scheme. For more information see our website. To make enquiries or a referral, please call us.
Oundle, England, PE8 4JA
Service Eligibility
We would ideally love to help all applicants, but resources are limited, and preference will be given to individuals with the greatest need.
Individuals must live in our catchment area; the north-eastern area of Northamptonshire. We operate in Oundle, Thrapston and surrounding villages. A full list of villages covered can be found on our website (on the Community Car Scheme Page).
Individuals must be in receipt of a State Pension or have a life-limiting illness or disability. You are unlikely to meet our criteria if:
- you have serious mental health, personality or behavioural problems
- you are suffering with moderate to severe dementia and unable to remember appointment times or form a rewarding relationship with a volunteer
- you are experiencing a temporary crisis
Please contact VA by phone or email to request a Befriending referral form.
Information for Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers for our Visiting and Telephone schemes and our Social events.
Befriender Characteristics
- Anyone aged 18+ is welcome. NO upper age limit.
- Befrienders with all types of personalities are welcomed by VA. Introvert or extrovert – all are welcome. Practical or intellectual – all are welcome. Our members are different, so our Befrienders need to be different.
- Willingness to engage in conversation and be a good listener.
- Interest in the person you are supporting.
- Patience, empathy, trustworthiness and kindness.
How VA supports you?
Induction training for a good start and to ensure volunteer wellbeing. Regular 1:1 meetings. Volunteer Support Meetings to meet other volunteers, socialise with them and share experiences. A member of VA staff is always on the end of the phone for support or advice. Travelling expenses can be claimed.
More InformationAge Groups
Older Adults (65+)Themes
Older PeopleRegions
Country: England
Other Regions: East Midlands
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