This is service is currently not able to take referrals – please refer to Together Co – Befriending

Everybody should have someone to talk to. SIS matches people, with a shared culture and language, together to create friendships that make life better.

Migrants, particularly the most recently arrived, are especially vulnerable to loneliness and isolation.

Telephone Befrienders can make a real difference to one person’s life.

A regular weekly phone call is a positive social experience that relieves isolation and other social stresses. It is distraction from everyday problems, can boost confidence, connect people with the community, help with integration and provide a sense of purpose.

Befrienders need to have time, motivation and energy, in order to create what can be a special and unique relationship. The role also requires patience, flexibility, understanding, mutual trust and respect.

“I really enjoy chatting to the SIS befriender, it helps lift my mood.”
Spanish speaking service user

“I really love being a SIS Volunteer Befriender, I have built great relationships with my new friends. Most of the calls are really engaging but this depends largely on the mood of the SU at the time. They sometimes don’t pick up or are very quiet. Conversations range from 15 mins to 1 hour.”
Arabic and Farsi speaking befriender

 

Partners

SIS Bilingual Telephone Befriending was delivered in partnership with Together Co Befriending  from 2017 – 2025.

At the inception of the partnership we held two consultation events to help with understanding about loneliness and isolation in migrant communities and co-design bespoke, translated promotional materials that clearly represented target communities. These were distributed and promoted through grassroots community groups, religious venues, employers with ethnically diverse workforces, and via a mailing to individual service users.

Our service was launched during the Covid 19 pandemic to meet the needs of isolated individuals in our communities.  Together Co Befriending supported SIS with policies and procedures which informed the design and delivery of the service.

We hope to secure alternative funding in the future.

 

Downloads

2024-25 Bilingual Telephone Befriending Report (PDF)

2023-24 Bilingual Telephone Befriending  Report (PDF)

2022-23 Bilingual Telephone Befriending Report  (PDF)

2021-22 Bilngual Telephone Befriending Report  (PDF)

Consultation 1 – Loneliness and Isolation in Migrant Communities 2018 (PDF)

Consultation 2 – Promotional Material and Bespoke Service Delivery 2019 (PDF)