A befriending service covering Lincoln and the south of the county has been bolstered with a donation of £59,000 from Freemasonry.
The scheme, run by Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire, provides isolated and lonely people with a volunteer befriender, offering companionship on a regular basis either by telephone or in face-to-face meetings. The service is available for individuals for as long as it is needed, and is seen by many as a lifeline as more people understand how loneliness is affecting their physical and mental wellbeing.
The money, provided through the Freemasons’ charity the MCF, will cover the cost of a second volunteer co-ordinator, helping the organisation to sustain the quality standards it aspires to, and helping it to be ‘approved’ in a regular assessment of its work.
Nicki Lee, Volunteering Manager at Age UK Lincoln & South Lincolnshire, said: “The Age UK befriending service is a long-term commitment. We all get older; once people join us they tend to stay. A few left us after Covid, when things opened up again and they could go to the things they used to enjoy, but most stay with us for the long term. The people we befriend become friends, and ask for help with things we wouldn’t normally provide. Sometimes they have no-one else to ask, and that’s when befriending morphs into something else.
“We always try to bring people together who we know will get on; the service succeeds by having the right mix of people.” Service user Kath and her befriender Ann illustrate this perfectly. Kath said of Ann: “She’s a brilliant lady; always laughing. She has made a massive difference to me.” Ann said of Kath: “She has a wicked sense of humour. We have weekly giggles. We share common interests; enjoy gardens and birdwatching, read the same sort of books, enjoy the same kind of TV, and we’ve been to the cinema together.”
Nicki added: “We’re very grateful to Lincolnshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which make a huge difference to the lives of older people locally, especially in South Lincolnshire, where we see a greater need. We also aim to encourage more people to get involved through volunteering, to enjoy the fun and friendship it brings.”
Dave Wheeler, Lincolnshire Freemasons’ Provincial Grand Master, said: “I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Age UK with this hugely important programme to reach out to lonely and isolated older people in our county. Research shows that loneliness can have the same effect on an older person’s health as smoking ten cigarettes a day. It’s a serious situation Age UK is working hard to challenge.”
To access the service or to volunteer, call 03455 564144.
