Loneliness – could you make a difference?

We all know that loneliness can be bad for both our physical and mental health and this is especially the case in older people. With so many people living busy lives, often away from family, there are many lonely and isolated older people in Thanet.

Kent Coast Volunteering runs a ‘Good Neighbours Service’ set up to combat the devastating effects of loneliness. Our service provides befrienders, volunteers who carry out this vital role. These volunteers pop in for an hour or so, once a week, for a cuppa and a chat with an older person living locally to them.

Currently in Thanet, we have far more lonely older people than we have volunteers and we are urgently looking for more people to sign up. Our volunteers tell us how much they enjoy spending this time befriending someone, knowing they are making a real difference to their lives.

If you enjoy a cuppa and a chat and have an hour to spare, then you could be that person that changes someone else’s life in this simple way! For more info or a friendly chat with the team, please call 01304 367898 (Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 4pm) or email gns@kcv.org.uk. Thank you.

Written by:
Michaela Luckett
Good Neighbours Service Co-ordinator
Kent Coast Volunteers