What is this service:
Southside Buddies is our hyperlocal befriending service which aims to support people to be less isolated and feel less lonely. All of our befriending sessions take place face to face in our community centre on a weekly basis, with each session being up to ninety minutes. This is a free service.
We offer individual befriending, which is where our befriender meets with only one person at any one time.
We also offer very small group befriending which is where our befriender will meet with two or three people at once.
Although our befriending is a short term service, available for up to twelve weeks, we will introduce you to other activities and groups which take place within our centre which may be of interest beyond our befriending service.
What is loneliness?
Loneliness is a subjective feeling experienced when there is a difference between the social relationships we would like to have and those we have.
What is isolation?
Social isolation refers to when we do not have any or many social relationships with others, such as with family, friends or groups.
What is befriending?
Befriending is a series of planned social interactions in our community centre with one of our befrienders. Our volunteer befrienders spend time with those who would benefit from company, conversation and a cup of tea in a safe, welcoming, friendly space. Befriending is a way to support people to improve their wellbeing and create meaningful connections.
Who we can support:
We can offer befriending to those who;
*are aged sixty plus,
*are lonely and/or isolated, live, work, study or volunteer in the Southside area,
*and who are able to travel to our community centre.
Please note that whilst we are able to offer a helping hand, we are unable to provide any personal care or help those who need specialist support.
How to access our befriending:
Anyone who meets our criteria can ask to be matched with a befriender. To request a befriender or to ask any questions please get in touch with us by;
*
emailing befriending@southsidecommunitycentre.co.uk,
*
calling 0131 667 0484,
*
visiting us at Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street.
You can ask someone else to contact us on your behalf as long as they have your consent to do so.
Once we receive a request for befriending we’ll be in touch with you within a week or two to discuss whether our befriending service is suitable for you, and talk through what happens next.
Although we will look to match you with a befriender as soon as we can, the length of time this will take will vary depending on the availability of our volunteer befrienders.
Could you be one of our befrienders?
We'd be delighted to hear from those who would like to be one of our volunteer befrienders.
Click here to find out more.
Southside Buddies
This service is funded by Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Funding provided by the Scottish Government via Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council.