• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Ecas

Friendly and practical help for people with a physical disability

Support us
  • Home
  • About
  • Impact
  • News
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Ecas
    • Staff
    • Board and governance
    • Eligibility for Ecas services
    • Vacancies
    • Volunteer with Ecas
    • Gallery
  • Activities
    • Art
    • Computing
    • Craft
    • Music for fun
    • Reading and creative writing
    • Seated Tai Chi, meditation and relaxation
    • Swimming
    • Yoga
  • Befriending
    • Become a volunteer befriender
    • Befriending opportunities
    • Befriender’s role
    • About befriending
    • Facilitated friendships
    • Make a referral
  • Grants
  • Young people
  • Impact
  • News
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Support us
    • What your money can buy
    • Fundraise
    • Become a corporate supporter
    • Leave money to Ecas
  • Activities
    • Art
    • Computing
    • Craft
    • Film club
    • Music for fun
    • Reading and creative writing
    • Seated Tai Chi, meditation and relaxation
    • Yoga
  • Befriending
    • Become a volunteer befriender
    • Befriending opportunities
    • Befriender’s role
    • About befriending
    • Facilitated friendships
    • Make a referral
  • Grants
  • Young people

Distance befriending reduces isolation

November 3, 2020

#BefriendingIs friendship, company and connection

During the lockdown this spring, Joan found herself even more isolated. She’s unable to get out much because of her disability, and ended up going for long stretches without talking to anyone. So her social worker recommended befriending as a way to feel more connected at a time when her family couldn’t visit.

Through the Ecas Distance Befriending Service, she was introduced to John, who also leads the Ecas’ Reading and Creative Writing Group. She shares pictures of her beautiful handmade cards with him, they’ve done quizzes for fun, and he’s helped her look up information and music online. And above all, they talk about anything and everything, from a shared love of crime novels to family to football to politics.

“He matches up with me brilliantly,” Joan says. “We’re always talking and laughing. I can talk to him about what’s going on with me, and he tells me what he’s up to.”

“I look forward to our calls,” she adds. “I always know I’ve got someone to talk to.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, our existing befriending matches could no longer meet face-to-face so some began to connect by phone or voice or video app. Because many more people have felt isolated over the last several months, we are now accepting referrals to our new Distance Befriending Service.

Through this service, Joan can chat weekly to someone who shares her interests and boosts her spirits. “John is a star,” she says. “There aren’t that many truly wonderful people in the world, but he’s one of them.”

Are you – or do you know – someone who could benefit from our Distance Befriending Service? Find out more about the referral process, and contact us at 07500 221618 or hello@ecas.scot for a chat.

  • Follow us

Filed Under: Blog, Case studies Tagged With: befriending

Primary Sidebar

Past blog

Any questions?

No question is a stupid question. Head over to our Frequently Asked Questions and if you can’t find the answer give us a call or email and we’ll be happy to help.

Footer

Get in touch

Get in touch with us and we can tell you more about Ecas.
  • Your Name
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Copyright © 2018 Ecas. Ltd. Registered in Scotland No. 102790. Registered charity No. SC014929. Registered office: Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh EH7 5QY
Scottish Charity Regulator
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap