Taking action to reduce loneliness and isolation for older adults across Glasgow.

The No.1 Befriending Agency

Our mission is to improve the quality of life and reduce loneliness and isolation among older people through friendship and companionship.

Older people are particularly vulnerable to loneliness, often experiencing limited social interactions due to mobility issues. To address this, we have developed a befriending service where trained volunteers visit isolated older adults, offering companionship through simple activities like having a chat over a cup of tea.

Thanks to the support of our wonderful volunteer befrienders, we provide this befriending service free of charge to those who need it most. Our vision is to foster meaningful connections and build confidence in the people we work with, helping them feel valued and supported.

Our 12-week befriending service pairs service users with dedicated volunteers, who commit to visiting them once a week.

  • What is Befriending?

    Befriending is a social support service aimed at reducing loneliness and isolation by providing companionship to individuals, particularly those facing social isolation or difficult life circumstances.

    Our befrienders are trained volunteers who visit older individuals experiencing isolation, offering companionship through simple activities like chatting over a cup of tea and listening to their stories.

    Learn More

  • Become a Volunteer Befriender

    Research shows that befriending can help people reconnect with their community and reduce loneliness. If you’re interested in getting involved, we’d love to have you! We offer full training, so you can make a real difference in your community.

    Please note that volunteering opportunities for 2024 are now closed. We will let you know when recruitment opens again!

    Get Involved

  • Donate

    Support our work by donating to help connect socially isolated and lonely individuals, improving their mental health and wellbeing through befriending.

    Donate

  • "It helps me so much. When I'm lonely, it's nice to chat with someone and have a laugh. It really lifts my mood.”

    Service User

  • “Knowing that I’m making a difference to someone’s week and potentially their wellbeing, it’s incredibly rewarding."

    Volunteer Befriender

  • "Having a befriender is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I look forward to a Wednesday when my befriender comes round."

    Service User

  • "It’s nice to know that I’m making a difference in the life of someone who is lonely and vulnerable. It has helped me build a lot of different skills."

    Volunteer Befriender