For members Telefriending Our Telephone befriending service is for LGBT+ people aged over 50 who would like to receive a weekly phone call. We’re currently taking referrals for those who would like a telephone friend, so if you’re interested please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 7239 0400. What is Telefriending? Telefriending is a free telephone befriending service where one of our lovely volunteers will call you around the same time each week for a chat of up to 30-minutes. The person who calls you each week will always be the same telefriending volunteer. We know that not talking to someone regularly can be difficult and sometimes can increase feelings of loneliness; our telefriending service is here so you can regularly chat to someone familiar. We’ll match you with someone like-minded where you share similar interests and are more likely to have things in common. Our volunteers are not paid and don’t have the same responsibilities such as a social worker, carer or doctor. Telefrienders are committed and caring community members who give their time and attention to people like you as part of our befriending service. If you want to find out more about telefriending please email [email protected] to recieve our Telefriending Client Handbook. Who is Telefriending for? Telefriending is suitable for people who are: Over 50 and identify as LGBT+ feel lonely and isolated have their own landline or mobile phone able to hear and be understood over the phone able to commit to a regular weekly call at the same time. Sometimes people have support needs that are not suitable for this scheme, perhaps because they are too complex, or the needs are not linked to being lonely and isolated. If you’re not sure telefriending is for you, just give us a ring – the Befriending Coordinator is happy to talk things through with you. How do I get a telephone befriender? If you want to have a telephone befriender please call (020 7239 0400 - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm), or email us at [email protected] and we will arrange a phone call with you. If you want to refer someone you think could benefit, please fill in our external referral form and send to [email protected]. We'll then arrange a call to confirm that you (or the person being referred) is suitable for the service. This service will prioritise those who are isolated due to frailty or physical impairments and have no regular meaningful social connections. We are particularly interested in supporting those who are from underrepresented groups.