Norfolk Fact sheet Number 10 Norfolk Befriending Last updated: January 2013
Contents Age UK & Age Concern Schemes: Age UK Norfolk: page 3 Pabulum Age UK North Norfolk: page 4 West Norfolk District: page 4 Age UK Norwich Befriending Services page 5 Age Concern Swaffham Befriending Scheme page 5 Other Befriending Schemes: Aylsham & District Care Trust (ACT) page 6 Norfolk Deaf Association Befriending Project page 7 The Samaritans page 8 Voluntary Norfolk : Volunteer Centres page 9 Locality Team Leaders page 10 Mental Health Befriending Service page 10 page 2
BEFRIENDING This fact sheet provides contact information for a number of befriending schemes which operate throughout the Norfolk area. Befriending Schemes Age UK & Age Concern in Norfolk: Befriending schemes offer an important service to older people who, due to location or other reasons, are particularly isolated. Volunteers either visit an individual or keep in contact via the telephone. Age UK Norfolk: Befriending Service: Age UK Norfolk offers a free service via the telephone with volunteers calling people at home each week for a good social chat. For those that want to take part, there is also a weekly quiz to stimulate thoughts and conversation. For more information, telephone 01603 787111. For people that want a visitor for companionship or someone to go out with, then Age UK Norfolk s Home Support and Care might be solution. For more information, telephone 01603 785200. Pabulum: This project of Age UK Norfolk is working to improve the lives and well-being of people with dementia and their carers. It provides reminiscent based, person-centred support in group work and home visits. For information, contact Age UK Norfolk at Head Office on 01603 787111. Clubs and Groups: Age UK Norfolk hold a comprehensive database of clubs and groups throughout the area. Call us on 01603 787111 for a copy. page 3
Age UK North Norfolk: Capacity & Access Team (C.A.T.): C.A.T. works in partnership with Norfolk Social Services and Norfolk Primary Care Trust and provides information and support for older people and people with a disability. The aim is to prevent accidents, reduce risks and help maintain a healthy, independent, safe and secure life at home. The C.A.T. team provides free advice, practical help and befriending opportunities. Befriending Service: This service has a dedicated team of volunteers which provides befriending opportunities for older people in the North Norfolk area. For information, contact Age UK North Norfolk: 35b Cremer Street Sheringham Norfolk. NR26 8DZ Tel: 01263 823126 Email: ageuknn.admin@xlninternet.co.uk Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/northnorfolk West Norfolk District: West : This registered charity provides a befriending scheme in West Norfolk for those who are isolated as a result of age, physical disability, sensory impairment or because they are a Carer. Befrienders provide regular visits and offer social support. The aim of West is to alleviate social isolation For information, contact Pauline Dye (Mon/Tues/Thurs) for the Downham Market and Fens areas or Pippa May (Mon-Fri) for all other areas within West Norfolk, via our website or follow us on twitter#wnbefriending or contact the Befriending Office: 12 Thoresby College Queen Street KING S LYNN. PE30 1HX Telephone: 01553 763500 Email: info@wnbefriending.org.uk Website: www.wnbefriending.org.uk page 4
Age UK Norwich Befriending Services: Age UK Norwich has a long-established Befriending service for people living in the City, through which they can offer friendship, advice and advocacy to people in the comfort and security of their own homes. Their volunteer befrienders agree to visit a person regularly. Visits are usually made weekly for about an hour, at a time agreeable to both parties. (They also offer an escorted door-to-door shopping service for people aged 60 or over who could not otherwise do their own shopping). For further information about these services, contact Sheena MacRonald at: Age UK Norwich Boardman House Redwell Street NORWICH. NR2 4SL Telephone: 01603 496333 Email: enquiries@ageuknorwich.org.uk Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/norwich Age Concern Swaffham Befriending Scheme: This scheme provides befriending for older people in their own homes or in care homes within the Swaffham area. For information, contact Barbara Lock (Befriending Co-ordinator) as below or, if anyone wishes to visit her to find out more about befriending, she is usually at the Town Hall on Thursdays from 9am-1pm (Room 3): Age Concern Swaffham & District The Town Hall 4 London Street SWAFFHAM. PE37 7DQ Tel: 07412 775574 (Tues & Wed 9-5pm Thurs 9-4pm) Email: acswaffhambefrienders@gmail.com page 5
Other Befriending Schemes: Aylsham & District Care Trust (ACT): ACT provides a range of services to older people in and around Aylsham. They provide help, transport and the opportunity to enjoy social events, particularly for those who would otherwise be isolated, lonely or too frail to attend without help. ACT is a registered charity and its work is undertaken almost entirely by volunteers. Their services include Visiting and Support for Carers friendly, voluntary visitors offering companionship, support and pastoral care. If you would like more information, or feel you are in need of some help, contact their co-ordinators: 23 Charles Ewing Close AYLSHAM. NR11 6LJ Tel: 01263 734578 Email: susie@aylshamcaretrust.com Website: www.aylshamcaretrust. page 6
Norfolk Deaf Association Befriending Project: Befriending is a relationship between a trained volunteer (a befriender) and a service a structured and supervised programme. The Norfolk Deaf Association Befriending Project is staffed by volunteers, (many of whom are bi-lingual in BSL and English). Befriending is a relationship between a trained volunteer (a befriender) and a service user (befriendee) within a structured and supervised programme. This service offers support and friendship to members of the community who experience any degree of hearing loss (from being profoundly deaf, BSL users or hard of hearing). They are referred by Social Services, friends and relatives, hospitals, church groups, or may self-refer. The service users may be living in their own homes, sheltered housing or residential or nursing homes. They may be lonely, depressed or isolated but, whatever the reason, their aim is to enable a service user to overcome these problems. Norfolk Deaf Association do this by offering the very special support a volunteer/befriender can provide. For further information, contact Pam Spicer at the Norfolk Deaf Association: 217 Silver Road NORWICH. NR3 4TL Telephone: 01603 404440 Textphone: 01603 404440 Fax: 01603 404433 Email: befriending@norfolkdeaf.org.uk Website: www.norfolkdeaf.org.uk page 7
The Samaritans: Samaritans is a member of Befrienders Worldwide providing confidential listening and befriending services by telephone, email, letter and face-to-face in most branches for people in an emotional crisis. They have local offices which are open to receive callers call for details of visiting times: Great Yarmouth: 62 North Quay. (01493 842800) King s Lynn: 26 Queen Street. (01553 761616) Norwich: 19 St. Stephen s Square (01603 611311) 321A Aylsham Road. (01603 441531) For further information, go to their website www.samaritans.org.uk or call their National Helpline on 08457 909090 which is contactable every day of the year on a 24-hour basis (textphone 0845 909192 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired only). page 8
Voluntary Norfolk: Voluntary Norfolk is the major volunteering organisation in Norfolk. They manage four Volunteer Centres in Cromer, Great Yarmouth, Norwich and Thetford and a network of Community Volunteer Co-ordinators. Each Coordinator has a number of registered volunteers who are involved in one-toone befriending with older people, those with health disabilities, or people who are either socially or geographically isolated. For information, go to www.voluntarynorfolk.org.uk. If you have a friend, neighbour or family member who would benefit from befriending services, contact your local Volunteer Centre in Cromer, Great Yarmouth, Norwich or Thetford. For all other areas within Norfolk (except West Norfolk), Voluntary Services Co-ordinators may be contacted via their Locality Team Leaders: Voluntary Norfolk - Volunteer Centres Gt. Yarmouth Volunteer Centre 143 King Street GREAT YARMOUTH NR30 2PQ North Norfolk Volunteer Centre Merchants Place 16 Church Street CROMER. NR27 9GW Tel: (01493) 845926 Email: gtyarmouthvc@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk Tel: 01263 510701 Email: northnorfolkvc@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk Norwich Volunteer Centre 83-87 Pottergate NORWICH. NR2 1DZ page Tel: 9 (01603) 614474 Email: reception@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk Thetford & District Volunteer Centre Tel: (01842) 767670
Community Healthy Living Centre Croxton Norfolk Road Factsheet THETFORD. IP24 1JD Email: thetfordvc@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk Voluntary Norfolk - Locality Team Leaders Aylsham Cromer Dereham Fakenham North Walsham Attleborough Brundall Diss Great Yarmouth Long Stratton Norwich Thetford Thorpe (Norwich) Wymondham Jonny Wood Tel: 01263 510701 Email: jonnywood@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk John Lee Tel: 07771 782714 Email: johnlee@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk Voluntary Norfolk Specialist Volunteer Services The Mental Health Befriending Scheme Voluntary Norfolk 83-87 Pottergate NORWICH. NR2 1DZ Natalie Hickman Tel: 01603 883823 Email: natalie.hickman@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk page 10
This service supports people with mental health problems Norfolk in Norwich, Befriending enabling Norfolk Factsheet them to achieve greater independence and confidence, improved social contact and a better quality of life. Volunteer befrienders give an hour or two each week, to share ordinary social contact with people who have become isolated in this way. page 11
Age UK Norfolk has been in existence since 1947 The mission of the charity is To promote the well being of all older people throughout the County of Norfolk and to help make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. Age UK Norfolk Head Office 300 St Faith s Road Old Catton Norwich NR6 7BJ Telephone: 01603 787111
1234 Norfolk Factsheet page 2 Registered in England: 3783205, Registered Charity No: 1077097