Lana's story: “Knowing I could make even a small impact, just by listening and being there for her, feels incredibly rewarding”
When Lana, a Greenwich resident, first decided to volunteer as a befriender with Healthwatch Greenwich, she wasn’t sure what to expect. “Honestly, I was nervous,” she recalls. “I worried about how to start conversations and keep them going. But our training helped. A simple tip, like starting with ‘How’s the weather?’ opened the door to wonderful conversations.”
Lana has been a befriending volunteer for four months. Her weekly calls with Emma, her 83-year-old client, have transformed her perspective not only on befriending but on the challenges faced by Greenwich residents. “There’s so much good being done, but we could do more. It’s not just about keeping people connected; it’s about helping them feel alive and engaged in the world. Emma told me how much she looks forward to our calls. She said it keeps her mind engaged and breaks up her day. Knowing I can make even a small impact just by listening and being there for her feels incredibly rewarding.”
One of the moments that impacted Lana the most came during a conversation with Emma about shopping. For Lana, shopping is a pastime, sometimes even a chore. For Emma, who lives with a disability, it’s a luxury.
I mentioned that I needed to go shopping, and she said how much she would love to accompany me. It was such a simple comment, but it broke my heart. It highlighted how much she misses doing everyday things that many of us take for granted.
Emma’s story is not only her own; it reflects the experiences of many older residents in Greenwich. Without family or friends to turn to, local support services are everything. Yet, with so few available in the borough, Lana thinks about what more could be done to keep residents connected. “The coffee clubs and dinner groups they run are fantastic, but there are so few. They give people a reason to leave their homes and connect, but they need support to do that—someone to take them out. What about more adventurous outings, like museum trips or other activities that could really engage them? Even services that assist with basic tasks, like shopping, would make a huge difference.”
Despite the challenges, Lana recognises the impact of befriending—not just on Emma’s life, but her own. To anyone considering this role, she says embrace it, “I’ve learned so much from befriending—how to listen more deeply, how to empathise, and how to connect with someone whose life experience is so different from mine. It has taught me patience. These are skills I will carry with me forever.
To anyone interested, I would say go for it. Approach it with an open mind and be ready to listen. Your client may have a completely different life experience, but that’s what makes it special. You’ll learn from them, and they’ll learn from you.
