Befriending service

Meet deaf friends in Scotland

Befriending service goes online

We know how lonely it can feel at any age being at home during the Coronavirus pandemic. That is why at Deaf Action, we have created a new online Befriending Service to allow deaf and hard of hearing people to find and meet with Deaf and hard of hearing friends anywhere in Scotland.

Need to chat?

If you or someone you know could do with a friendly face to chat to, our befriending service can help you meet deaf friends in Scotland with similar interests and suitable communication needs for conversation and companionship during this difficult time.

Not only can the befriender stay in contact through video calls, text messages, and letters. They can also help you with other support including food and medicine deliveries if you are in a vulnerable category.

Please note, that this service is now also available to young people aged 10 to 18 years old as well as adults.

If you don’t have a suitable device to communicate online with our befrienders, we can also provide you with the free loan of a computer tablet, as well as training.

Becoming a befriender

Volunteering to become a befriender can be an extremely rewarding way to spend your time. In our efforts to stay safe during the Coronavirus pandemic, we are seeking to recruit new online befrienders that can spare some time to chat with deaf and hard of hearing adults.

What makes a great volunteer?

• Good communication skills
• Reliable
• Interested in helping others

If you have what you think it takes to become a befriender volunteer, contact befriending@deafaction.org. We are be looking for volunteers with and without British Sign Language (BSL).

Deaf BSL users, deafened, deafblind, and hard of hearing all welcome to use our befriending service to meet new friends.