Making friends: combat loneliness

Older people taking a photo together

Age UK's befriending services (Good Neighbour Schemes)

If you are lonely and isolated, especially if frail or physically disabled, then befriending is a service that could provide companionship and support. 

There are 5 befriending services around Barnet:

  1. Friend in Need, East and New Barnet areas
  2. High Barnet Good Neighbour Scheme
  3. The Good Neighbour Scheme for Mill Hill and Burnt Oak
  4. Telephone befriending service, where a volunteer calls you
  5. Barnet-wide befriending service, where a volunteer comes to your home

Support and services offered are usually by donation or at low cost:

  • exercise classes, yoga, tai-chi, dance
  • IT training
  • hot lunches
  • a friendly voice and telephone chat
  • outings to shops and parks
Find out more about Age UK's befriending service (external link)

The Silver Line

The Silver Line Helpline provides three functions to support older people:

  • a sign-posting service to link them into the many, varied services that exist around the country
  • a befriending service to combat loneliness
  • a means of empowering those who may be suffering abuse and neglect, if appropriate to transfer them to specialist services to protect them from harm
The Silver Line call anytime 0800 4 70 80 90
decorative

Volunteer

30% of Barnet residents say that they volunteer regularly and 42% say that they have given unpaid help to an organisation in the last 12 months.

Even if you don't see yourself as a volunteer, it's the little things you do that count.

Find out more about our volunteering opportunities