Image of Welcome Friends group

Key Facts

  • Currently running in South Wales in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil
  • Providing friendship and social interaction for people aged 50+ who may be feeling lonely and may have recently lost their confidence in mixing with others

Welcome Friends has been running for 9 years throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil. The project provides friendship through home visits and telephone calls by volunteers, reducing social isolation and improving well-being. We also encourage attendance at local group activities.

Welcome Friends improves the quality of life for older people by working with them to overcome or accommodate the difficulties faced by those who are not out and about. It has also added more support to those whose lives have been affected by the Covid pandemic.

Want to volunteer?

Volunteering with Welcome Friends is a satisfying and rewarding experience. You need to be able to give an hour a week of your time to visit a lonely, sometimes isolated person in their own home. Your companionship can encourage them to seek interests in a local activity group or just enjoy a cup of tea and a chat with you. We will apply for a DBS check and take up two references from your friends or colleagues and then arrange for an informal training session before introducing you to a new friend.

For more information about Welcome Friends, get in touch on the details below.

FOR Rhondda Cynon Taf CALL Diane or Rhian on 07788310445 /07823 413283

OR EMAIL
diane.matheson@volunteeringmatters.org.uk

RHIAN.TAYLOR@VOLUNTEERINGMATTERS.ORG.Uk

Volunteering Opportunities run by this project:

Welcome Friends – Befriender (Rhondda Cynon Taf)

Rhondda

Volunteers support and befriend people who may be isolated or lonely in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.

Welcome Friends – Befriender (Merthyr Tydfil)

merthyr tydfil

Volunteers support and befriend people who may be isolated or lonely in the local area by making home visits and helping to organise and run social activities in community settings such as sheltered accommodation, day centres or libraries.