End loneliness in our community - Volunteer as a Befriender

Blackfriars Settlement - Volunteer Befriender

Location: North and Mid Southwark

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per week, minimum 6 months

Blackfriars Settlement is a vibrant community organisation, founded in 1887, working with people across north and mid Southwark. We support children and families, older people, people with mental health issues, and anyone facing isolation or disadvantage.

Through our Positive Ageing service, we're recruiting Volunteer Befrienders to offer one-to-one social connection to older people who are isolated, housebound or lonely.

This role is ideal for someone who has time to build a consistent, trusting relationship with an older or isolated person. It requires patience, good communication, and emotional resilience. Training and ongoing support are provided.

What you'll do:

• Visit or call an older person weekly to offer companionship and connection
• Listen with care, build trust, and bring a sense of joy, purpose or ease to their day
• Encourage their interests, wellbeing, and engagement with the wider community
• Provide informal support and gentle encouragement-not advice or problem-solving

What you'll gain:

• Hands-on experience in relational care-perfect for aspiring social workers, counsellors, or anyone seeking deeper understanding of people
• A chance to develop core skills like active listening, empathy, emotional regulation, and trust-building
• Personal growth, confidence and communication experience that transfers to many personal and professional settings
• A deeper appreciation of life, ageing, and human connection
• A reference after 6 months, plus ongoing supervision and reflective support to help you grow

What we're looking for:

• A kind, reliable person with time and emotional capacity to give
• Good listening and communication skills
• Willingness to engage with people from all walks of life
• Openness to reflect, grow, and show up with consistency

Commitment:

• 1-2 hours per week
• We ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months to support long-term relationships

This is a meaningful, relational role that asks something of you-and offers something real in return.

To learn more, visit blackfriars-settlement.org.uk.

Apply via the button below.

Charity No. 210558