Celebrating the power of friendship this Befriending Week
Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre is proud to be supporting Befriending Week
This week, our Centre is supporting Befriending Week.
The annual campaign runs from 1 to 7 November, and raises awareness of befriending, highlighting the difference social connection makes in reducing loneliness and social isolation.
Loneliness affects 1 in 6 people globally, and our own community is no exception. In Pershore and the villages and hamlets surrounding it, it can be all too easy for someone to go days without a proper conversation. That is why befriending sits at the very heart of what our centre does.
What is befriending?
Befriending brings people together for planned social activities, building meaningful connections along the way. It might be a regular visit from a familiar face, a chat over a cuppa, a phone call or a trip out. Whatever form it takes, the result is the same: someone who may have been feeling alone sees a friendly face, has a reason to get ready, and ultimately has something to look forward to.
We always aim to have a full calendar of monthly events, and in conjunction with Number 8 High Street, bookings are now open to see the 1954 movie classic 'White Christmas'. Admission is FREE so booking is essential, and this showing will be a dementia friendly screening. Call the cinema box office on 01386 555488 to book your FREE seats today!
The good our befrienders do
Our befrienders are at the heart of this work.
They give their time freely, and they bring patience, kindness and a genuine interest in the people they spend time with. Their friendships do far more than fill an hour every week. They boost confidence, lift spirits and help people feel valued, heard and connected to the community around them.
For many of the people we support, having a regular friendly contact can change the shape of a week. Frequently, the benefits work both ways, and many of our volunteers tell us that befriending enriches their own lives too.
Behind every successful match is a dedicated team of staff who recruit, train and support our befrienders.
This Befriending Week, we want to thank everyone involved. You are helping us tackle loneliness in our community, and our centre couldn’t do it without you.
A week to celebrate, and a call to act
Befriending Week is a chance for communities to raise awareness, celebrate the contributions of befriending volunteers and the staff who support them, and speak up for befriending with local (and even national) decision-makers.
Every voice matters, and there are plenty of ways to get involved:
• Share your experience of how befriending has helped you.
• If you have supported a member of the Pershore community, share your story.
• Aim to inspire one other person this week to become a befriender.
Could you be a befriender?
You don’t need any special qualifications to make a difference, just a little time and a friendly, caring nature.
If you’ve ever thought about volunteering, there has never been a better time to start.
Visit befriending.co.uk/befriending-week/get-involved to learn more about the national Befriending Week campaign. Alternatively, if you or someone you know would welcome a regular visit or a friendly chat, we would love to hear from you.
Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre is always looking for volunteers to become befrienders. So, if you would like to find out more, be sure to visit our dedicated befriending page on our website, call us on 01386 554299 or email admin@pershirevolunteers.org.uk.