Befriending

Are you feeling lonely?

Sometimes all it takes is a cup of tea and a blether to help with those feelings of isolation and loneliness. If you’re over 60, living in Edinburgh and would like some company, then we’re here to help.

We are now taking referrals for over 60s who would like a visit from a volunteer on a weekly basis.

Our innovative approach to friendships has been in high demand since we started, and we currently have a waiting list in Edinburgh.

We know that waiting is frustrating, and we want to help find a companion for our VIPs (our over 60s) as soon as possible – but we place great importance on matching our VIPs with the right match, so that a long-term and meaningful friendship can develop.

In order to not leave VIPs on the waiting list for too long, we hope you can understand that we have decided to open for referrals from specific areas – these are places where we know we have volunteers on the way.

Currently our volunteers are able to visit in person both in and out of the home or via telephone (or a mixture of all 3) subject to ongoing guidance.

We currently have limited availability. Please get in touch directly to find out if we can help.

How you can refer someone who is feeling lonely...

You can refer yourself or someone you know who lives in any of the above postcode areas.

Please download and complete our referral form at https://vintagevibes.org.uk/how-we-can-help and return it to us at hello@vintagevibes.org.uk.

Please note that we are unable to accept referrals for other postcode areas of the city at the moment.

Would you like to be alerted when we open referrals in your postcode area? Let us know your contact details and location.

If you have any questions or need support in completing our referral form, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at hello@vintagevibes.org.uk.

Do you know someone who would make a fantastic volunteer? Put them in touch with us at hello@vintagevibes.org.uk

Do you have a client who is affected by loneliness?

Isolation and loneliness are detrimental to our health and wellbeing. They can contribute to a variety of health issues, such as depression, increased risk of dementia and, ultimately, early death.

As far as possible, we aim to match our VIPs with volunteers who have shared interests. Similarly, we can link people to existing groups, organisations and services in the city.

Do you have a friend/family member who is feeling lonely or isolated?

For people aged 60 and over, social circles can decrease as families move away, spouses die, and friends and neighbours become less active or mobile. But we want to do something about that.

So, at Vintage Vibes we use friendly volunteers to reach out to over 60s across Edinburgh who may be feeling lonely. Our volunteers offer companionship, reliable support and the opportunity to be more socially connected.