The SIS Telephone Befriending project received a referral in April 2021 from Together Co, the lead partner for this project. The Service User (SU) who was referred to SIS wanted to be matched with a Volunteer Telephone Befriender who spoke the same language as she did. The SU was matched with a Volunteer later that month and they have been having regular calls since then with the aim of helping to relieve feelings of loneliness and isolation. A SIS Projects Coordinator recently spoke to the SU through a SIS Community Interpreter about her experience of the Befriending project:
It so good this project, I’m so grateful, I couldn’t talk to anyone before. It is hard for me to talk to anyone. I found it easy to talk to her from the start. I don’t know how you matched me with her, but it really worked well. Talking to her has really helped me with many things, how I’m thinking about things. You said it was luck that we were matched, but I think SIS knows how to choose people, they know what to say and think… SIS knows how to choose people who know what they are doing, they are professional.
In general, I just feel comfortable that if I have a problem, I can talk to her, even things I can’t talk to my family about, she makes me feel better and that is important.
I hope this project can continue; it is really valuable.
The Befriending Volunteer also reflected on their calls:
I get a sense of satisfaction in helping someone and we enjoy speaking to each other. I feel I have a friend in her.
