AGE UK Cheshire are seeking volunteers who would like to be matched with an older person as part of a new befriending service.

Sharing Time connects people and creates friendships to reduce social isolation and loneliness.

Amanda Hodgkinson, wellbeing services manager at Age UK Cheshire, said: “We are really excited for the future of Sharing Time. The new service now has much more of a focus and will be looking specifically to support clients in Northwich and the surrounding rural areas, which have been identified as having areas with higher risks of loneliness.”

The new and improved befriending service will now include internet-based befriending, using Skype or FaceTime, as well as the more traditional face-to-face befriending.

Amanda said: “It may be that you visit them for a chat once a week over a cup of tea, that you go out and experience new places together or that you simply provide regular phone calls. If you would be interested in making a difference to the life of an older person in Cheshire, then we would welcome you to get in touch to find out more.”

Sharing Time will launch in April 2018 and will replace the previous service which closed in 2017.

Contact the Age UK team on 01606 305034 or visit their website at ageuk.org.uk/cheshire/our-services/sharing-time