What is Befriending and How Can It Help?
BefriendingGALE is a volunteer befriending service available in our area through the fantastic partnership between Highland Hospice Helping Hands and GALE Action Forum.
It offers support to people at home, who have been identified as needing help, either by the local NHS teams or friends and family.
The volunteer provides social and practical support in an informal way. The amount of time and activities will vary but every volunteer will provide a friendly ear to listen as well as extra assistance to help reduce anxiety and stress for individuals and carers.
What Can We Help With?
As each person is different, the help and support offered is tailored to their individual needs. For some people this might be keeping them company or going out on trips, whilst for others the support enables their family or carers to have time to themselves knowing their loved one is being well looked after.
Each person has their own volunteer befriender who visits as often as agreed, and this enables the person, their family and/or carers to get to know the volunteer. Building this connection is at the heart of this service.
BefriendingGALE volunteers may:
- Take short car trips/outings
- Sit with people to enable carers to have a break
- Chat about local or national news and sports
- Read with a person
- Help with a hobby
- Provide emotional support at times of change or difficulty
Who Can Access The Befriending Service?
Anyone adult resident in Gairloch, Loch Ewe Area, and Ullapool.
How Do I Make An Appointment?
Individuals and family members may self-refer to BefriendingGALE. Once your referral is received we will arrange a time to chat about what the service can offer you.
If you think that you or someone you know may benefit from Befriending contact us:
📞 07796 807076
✉️ volunteering@galeteam.co.uk
Is The Service Confidential?
Yes! We provide a confidential service
Is There A Charge?
No. BefriendingGALE is funded via GALE and Highland Hospice. Funding helps to cover any expenses incurred by volunteers such as their travel.
The Befrienders
Our volunteer befrienders are trained by both Highland Hospice and GALE. With that training, they can make a big difference to the general welfare of the people they support. Volunteers will not become involved in personal care, medical care, counselling, domestic tasks such as cooking or cleaning, nor financial or legal matters.
Instead, they provide social and practical support to all individuals in need. Whether they have a life shortening illness, experiencing loneliness or social isolation, or are in need of short term support after a life-changing event such as bereavement or on discharge from hospital.
Befriending Coordinator
Donna Miller is BefriendingGALE’s Coordinator, she has worked with GALE since 2024. With a strong background in customer service and healthcare, Donna has found her calling in managing all aspects of volunteering within GALE.
A Befriending Service Run By Locals
Everyone needs other people, but not everyone has someone. Befriending offers supportive, reliable relationships through volunteer befrienders to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. BefriendingGALE provides effective support for children and young people, families, people with mental ill-health, people with learning disabilities and older people, amongst many others.
The results of befriending can be very significant. Befriending often provides people with a new direction in life, opens up a range of activities and leads to increased self-esteem and self confidence. Befriending can also reduce the burden on other services which people may use inappropriately as they seek social contact.
Support Us
A donation of £12 will cover the travelling expenses for 1 volunteer for 1 month and provide essential support for those in need.
If you would like to help us, please tell your friends and family about us, and consider donating to the befriending service by sending a donation:
Thank you for your support.
Contact Us
If you need someone to talk to or would like more information, please enquire confidentially via the form below.