Befriended
The aim of Befriended is to combat loneliness and isolation amongst older people. It is a relatively new charity which works with a number of churches in the Mid-Sussex area. It offers a one-to-one befriending service, and also brings people together for regular social events such as garden parties and community lunches.
In February 2019, the Allen Lane Foundation awarded a £5,000 grant to the charity which will contribute towards the salary of a project worker. The worker will enable Beloved to recruit and train more volunteers, which will lead to increased numbers of older people that will benefit from services. Over the coming year, it is anticipated that around 50 people will receive one-to-one befriending and around 400 people will attend different social activities.
