What is CarelinK Befriending Scheme?

• Carelink Befrienders provide companionship and a listening ear for people feeling isolated or lonely either during a face-to-face visit or by telephone call. Befrienders are volunteers recruited from the local community and receive training to carry out their role.

Who can use the scheme?

• The service is for adults living in Keighley postcodes BD20, BD21 and BD22.

How does it work?

• People are referred to the service by health and social care professionals, family or people can refer themselves. Carelink staff will match them up with a trained and vetted volunteer or member of staff for a weekly chat.

What do Befrienders do?

• Befriending volunteers visit or call people for a chat, to play cards/games or perhaps to go for a short stroll.

How often do Befrienders visit?

• Visits are for an hour and calls are generally from 20 minutes to an hour each week.

How much does the service cost?

• Carelink Befriending is a FREE service thanks to funding we receive from the Lottery Reaching Communities Fund and Bradford council.

What to expect:

• - Once someone has been referred to Carelink we will call them to discuss the service and take their details.
  - We will introduce the person to one of our Befrienders as soon as an appropriate volunteer is available.
  - The same Befriender will visit or call every week for up to an hour, at a mutually agreeable time.
  - The Befriending relationship can continue for as long as it suits the needs of the client and the availability of the volunteer.
  - The Befriending relationship will continue to be monitored by the project coordinator.
  - Carelink can also offer help with: dog walking, deliveries of books, games or DVD’s though our charity shop, doorstep welfare checks, as well as information and advice.

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Who can use the CareLink befriending scheme?

CarelinK is for older people over the age of 65 living in Keighley and surrounding villages who live alone and don’t have many visitors.

Older people can become isolated for various reasons such as:

• Bereavement
• Ill- health
• Reduced mobility
• Following a stay in hospital
• When relatives move away
• Loss of confidence

Who are CarelinK Volunteer Befrienders?

CarelinK Befrienders are people aged 18 to 90 who volunteer to give their time freely.

• Befrienders are vetted, DBS (police)checked and provide references.
• Befrienders are reliable, patient and friendly.  They are good listeners and enjoy the company of older people.
• Befrienders usually offer their services for a minimum period of six months.
• Befrienders receive appropriate  training and on-going support.
• Volunteer befrienders are unpaid but are reimbursed by Carelink for travel costs and out of pocket expenses.