The SIS Telephone Befriending project received a referral in November 2021 from the person’s GP via Together Co. She was matched with a SIS Telephone Befriending Volunteer that same month.
The Scheme Member is in her early 70s. She lives with her husband and has family living nearby. An interview with the Scheme Member was conducted through a SIS Community Interpreter.
Because I was feeling lonely, my daughter wanted me to find someone to befriend me.
Even with having four of my children and two grandchildren living nearby I can’t help but feel low and lonely especially because of lack of communication with friends after the pandemic. My lack of knowledge of the English language both for speaking and reading can make it more difficult.
I don’t want to put pressure on my oldest daughter because she has her own family to worry about.
My befriender was really good, very nice. We were talking about daily things, my befriender asked me about my children.
I felt like I was in a dream, it was nice talking to someone about my life. I am much better now. This is the best thing that you have done for people like myself, I don’t think you can do any better. I really admire what you are doing. I am really happy and grateful that you think about people like us.
When my daughter found me an English class, my befriender told me she could help me practice English. I was away for 3 months so we stopped the calls but I would like to start them again.
The Befriending Volunteer also reflected on their calls:
Even though she feels lonely, this lady sounds very good humoured. She spoke about her life and her family very openly. She was so happy to be contacted by me as a friend speaking her own language.
