Guild Care is inviting new volunteers to join its Creating Connections befriending service. The service supports older, local residents isolated at home and offers telephone befriending, home visits and short-term, goal-based support for those who have lost confidence after illness or reduced mobility.

Sue, from the trusted social care charity’s Creating Connections team, has been matching volunteers since 2010. She introduced volunteer Lily to Judith after she was referred to the befriending service. “I always try to find out about each person which can really help with the matching process. In this case, both Lily and Judith love animals which gave them an instant bond.”

Lily, 22, became a volunteer befriender after moving to Worthing last year. Her work is busy in summer and quieter in winter. “I am not very good at doing nothing, so I looked into volunteering,” she said. “Befriending is so flexible because it can be one hour every two weeks or three hours each week, and that malleable schedule was exactly what I needed. Creating Connections is a good fit around things I already do. Rather than having a set schedule, Judith and I can suit our own schedule.”

Lily brings her dog Roxy to each visit. “Volunteering as a befriender is like a scheduled chillout time every two weeks when we are just hanging out and chatting,” she said. “It’s quite grounding and I get to bring Roxy and she loves it too.”

Judith describes the visits as uplifting. “When you can’t do the things you used to do, it’s very interesting listening to people like Lily telling me all about her travels. Lily’s visits have brought some colour into my life. And of course she’s brought Roxy into it too. I’ve rescued animals all my life and I do miss them. It’s wonderful, absolutely brilliant to have Roxy visiting too. She’s so gorgeous.”

Lily encourages others to volunteer. “Just give it a go, I don’t know why you wouldn’t! It just nice to have a chat, it’s not scary, it’s very easy and everyone’s very nice that you encounter – and you can even bring your dog!”

Creating Connections continues to expand its support for older people facing loneliness and social isolation, and is keen to hear from anyone considering a volunteering role to meet demand for its growing befriending service.

To find out more about becoming a befriender in 2026, contact Guild Care’s Volunteering team on 01903 600602 or email [email protected]. For details about Creating Connections, visit Creating Connections - reducing social isolation and loneliness or call 01903 528635.