Directory Search

1 in 40 people aged 65+ can go a whole week without talking to a friend or family member. Loneliness increases the risk of frailty, coronary heart disease (by 29%), stroke (by 32%), and dementia (by 25%). Feeling connected matters — could you volunteer an hour or two a week to be part of the change?

Steel City Friends, from Age UK Sheffield, is a new volunteer-led project offering friendship and support to older people facing loneliness or isolation.

It's an action-focused and personalised approach to befriending, with matches based on shared interests. Over six months, through regular face-to-face visits or calls, you’ll build a friendship and set goals together to support an older person in feeling more connected—whether through a hobby, interest, or by re-engaging with their local community.

Find out more and how to apply by visiting our Steel City Friends page or call: 0114 250 2850 and tell them you want to volunteer.