Community360 is pleased to lead the ‘Find a Friend’ network
‘Find a Friend’ was formed in 2017 to support those organisations delivering befriending services across the Colchester Borough.
The network was established as a pilot with funding from the ACT Social Impact Fund and Colchester Catalyst Trust. Â The need for befrienders is increasing with all organisations in the network saying they struggled to keep up with the demand.
Organisations in the network include Age Concern, Abbots Over 50s Friendship Club, Action for Family Carers, Age UK Essex, Autism Anglia and more.
Befriending services vary depending on the resources and may be a telephone call once a week to have a chat and find out how things are, to a home visit where a befriender will visit someone in their home to have a cup of tea and a chat or hosting an afternoon tea party.
During the pilot year we hope to increase the number of people volunteering as befrienders and increase the capacity of organisations to cope with the demand.