Let's make sure nobody feels lonely or isolated in Dumfries & Galloway

Making a difference

Most of us need other people in our lives for our emotional wellbeing, support and to feel connected with the community we live in, but for many who become isolated as a result of ill health, disability or social disadvantage, having contact with a befriender can make a huge and positive difference to them. A Listening Ear is a volunteer-led befriending service set up to tackle loneliness and isolation across Dumfries & Galloway. Established in 2020 as an immediate response to the restrictions brought about by the Covid19 pandemic, we also recognised that there has been hidden isolation in our communities long before Covid, not least amongst older people, carers and those with long-term physical and mental health conditions. Our trained volunteers provide high quality befriending and signposting services on issues such as health, housing and benefits with referrals to other appropriate agencies when required. Most of all, our volunteers provide a listening ear to anyone who simply needs someone to talk to and provide emotional support over the phone. We are also planning to extend our project to include face-to-face meetings and calls via apps such as Zoom in the near future. We believe in community - no-one should feel isolated or lonely. Our help is open to anyone over the age of 18. If you feel you could benefit from our service or know someone who could or you would like to find out more, contact us today.