Volunteers sought to extend hand of friendship to isolated

A new Fife friendship project is getting off the ground. Dunfermline Advocacy has appointed a development worker Paul Mckee to work on its Friendship Changing Lives project.

Chief executive Rachel Annand said the project will help Dunfermline Advocacy expand its work around west Fife where it supports vulnerable adults and vulnerable older people who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation.

The work will be funded by the National Lottery Community Fund for three years.

Mr Mckee will be reaching out to vulnerable adults who are experiencing isolation, at risk of being unnecessarily isolated from mainstream living in their own communities or in danger of being pushed to the margins of society.

The organisation will use its existing connections to secure referrals from people in need of support as well as identifying, recruiting and training local volunteers.

The initiative will then pair each person with a volunteer, aiming to find the best match possible.

The aim will be to support participants to build their self-esteem, reduce anxieties, achieve new experiences, create resilience and prevent them from suffering exclusion and enduring loneliness.

Mr Mckee said: “At the heart of this project is the involvement of local people as volunteer citizen advocates.

Dunfermline Advocacy is now hoping to hear from people who might be interested in volunteering.

To get involved call 01383 624382 or visit www.dunfermlineadvocacy.org