Receive regular phone calls or visits
Telephone calls normally last around 30 minutes and visits last up to an hour. The phone calls and visits can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. We will talk with you about what would work best for you.
Start by calling our freephone number, which is 0800 319 6789, and we will arrange for someone to talk with you about your preferences, and get things started.
All our services are open for application to any older person and we don’t have an upper age limit.
All of our volunteers receive appropriate training before they begin to call or visit you. All of our friendship volunteers must undergo a DBS / PVG check to ensure we protect the older people we support. You will also get the full support of your Independent Age contact and a Head Office-based specialist team of expert advisers you can call for advice.
No, our friendship services are free of charge and nobody will ask you for money. Expenses incurred by the volunteer will be met by Independent Age.
No, our volunteers provide regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly contact with you. It might be for a short time, but would normally be more than once.
Yes, you would be able to apply for any of our services and our ability to support this request would depend on the availability of our volunteers.
Occasionally, people just don't 'click', although luckily this doesn’t happen often. If you don’t feel that your relationship is working, don't worry. Speak to your Independent Age contact. We will talk about it with with you and see whether there is someone you might feel more comfortable with.
No. Our volunteers provide visits and phone calls to have a chat with you.