Two Chesterfield residents find a “meaningful connection” brought together by a UK charity tackling loneliness

Sue and Shane from Chesterfield have become friends after both signed up to B:friend. The charity combats loneliness and isolation by matching volunteer befrienders with older neighbours for weekly meet-ups.

Sara Kopecsni, B:friend’s Senior Communications Officer, said: “Loneliness can have a detrimental effect on our health. It can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression and dementia. It’s the equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. We all need human connection, and all of our lives are richer with friendships.”

Shane and Sue first met through befriend two years ago, both looking for a meaningful connection. Sue signed up to B:friend’s befriender scheme after losing her husband of 53 years.

She said: “I was lonely, you see. I’d been married for 53 years and knew my husband for 58 years and all of a sudden he was gone. So, to me I was lonely.”

Although Sue attended a bereavement support group and her family encouraged her to get out more, she said she felt it didn’t help, so she used to stay in a lot.

This led to her signing up to B:friend’s befriender scheme, where she was matched with Shane. Sue said that befriending Shane was just what she needed.

She said: “It’s happened to be a new life to me. I’ve never done this before and you know, I’ve been 58 years really in my own little world, and I’ve come out of it, and it’s different and it’s nice.”

The duo quickly formed a firm friendship. They enjoyed catching up over a cuppa or going out together.

Shane had signed up to become a befriender after losing one of his grandparents. He said: “I lost my Nana, and I felt like I’ve got a bit of a hole in my life. I saw this advert on Facebook and I thought why don’t I give it a go, and I got paired with Susan.

“I remember coming around the first day and I expected a shy, retiring elderly, maybe watching The Chase on an evening, and it’s certainly not what I’ve got.”

The befriender described the special relationship he has developed with Sue as “lovely” and that the two of them talk about anything and everything together.

He said: “I think we work together pretty well, and it’s a nice thing to do. She’s told me a couple of times that I’ve made her life worth living again.”

Shane said he 100% recommends for people to sign up to b:friend, describing their sign-up process as “really easy.”

B:Friend have been highlighting the power of befriending as part of loneliness awareness which took place earlier this month.

Sara Kopecsni said: “At b:friend, we see every day the massive difference our amazing befrienders make to the lives of our older folk. Just knowing that someone will be there for a chat and a cuppa every week can have a huge positive impact on your well-being.”

If you are thinking of donating, or signing up to be a befriender visit the b:friend website at letsbfriend.org.uk/