With friends like these... the world is a better place!
Volunteers who transform the lives of others by giving the gift of friendship have been thanked at an awards ceremony.
The West Kent Befriending Service, a collaboration between Age UK and mental health charity Mind, held the celebration on Sunday as part of National Volunteer Week.
It was organised to thank those who spend at least an hour a week visiting a client in their home, or taking them out, to improve their confidence, increase their independence and give them a friendly face to talk to.
Last year, in the run up to Christmas, the Kent Messenger teamed up with the befriending service and ran the Give the Gift of Friendship campaign, aimed at getting 100 lonely people matched with volunteers.
In the New Year, we revealed 85 volunteers had been paired with clients while an additional 45 were going through the application process, meaning we were well en route to reach our target.
But at the awards ceremony it was revealed the Kent Messenger initiative, which has been shortlisted for Campaign of the Year in the Kent Press and Broadcast Awards 2016, had helped pair 119 volunteers with clients.
Wendy Pfeiffer, befriending service manager at Age UK, said: “This was a time for us to say ‘thank you’ to all of our wonderful volunteers for giving up their time and bringing a little bit of magic to those people they visit. The difference our volunteers make to the lives of their friends is immeasurable.
“We also wish to thank the Kent Messenger again for the successful Give the Gift of Friendship campaign, which brought in new volunteers and enormously reduced our waiting list.”
However, there are still 92 clients looking for their match, so more volunteers are always needed.
The service helps people who feel isolated due to age or mental health issues and has a section specifically for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.
To volunteer or find out more call 0800 048 4668 or find West Kent Befriending Service on Facebook.