Pick up the phone and make someone’s Christmas.
That’s the message from Ayr charity Voluntary Action South Ayrshire (VASA) this week as they send out an appeal for more volunteer telephone befrienders.
VASA’s South Ayrshire Lifeline Telephone Befriending service was launched in March to help people through the long, lonely months of lockdown.
Since then, demand for the service has been increasing steadily and more people are needed to share a regular chat with someone who is feeling lonely and isolated.
Carey McCabe, the service’s volunteer co-ordinator, said: “We’re now in the countdown to Christmas which sadly, for some people, is the loneliest time of the year – and never more so that this year.
“If you have 20 minutes to spare once a week, you like to have a blether and can offer a sympathetic ear, you could really make a huge difference to someone’s life and we would love to hear from you.”
Befrienders, who make calls from their own homes, are carefully matched with someone in South Ayrshire who needs a phone friend.
It could be an older person but many younger adults also rely on the caring service.
Training and full support is provided for volunteers and expenses are paid.
The key qualities VASA are looking for in their telephone befrienders are good communication skills, a friendly, honest and trustworthy nature and a passion for improving the lives of people who are lonely.
A PVG is required for this role but this will be arranged for anyone who does not have a current one.
If you are interested in becoming a telephone befriender and would like to find out more, please contact Carey on 0800 432 0510 or email carey@vasa.scot
