Telephone befriending
Getting a diagnosis of macular disease is often scary and worrying, and many people with sight loss find their lives can become lonely. You might be recently diagnosed, and worrying what the future might hold. Or you might find you can’t leave the house as often as before, or miss out on socialising opportunities.
Whatever your situation, macular disease can have a huge impact on your wellbeing. But you don’t have to feel alone. Telephone befriending can help. We offer a free, UK-wide telephone befriending service for people affected by macular disease.
Befriending service in memory of Marilyn Lee
The befriending service has been generously funded by the Hearn Foundation in memory of Marilyn Lee. Marilyn lived with wet AMD, and despite the fear and apprehension she felt, she learned to live with the condition rather than be defined by it. She found support and courage from her connections with other people, and that’s what befriending can offer you too.
What is telephone befriending?
Telephone befriending is a free service that offers regular telephone calls with a trained volunteer befriender.
Once you are matched with someone suitable, they will call you regularly for a friendly chat.
You can agree how often you speak, whether that’s every week or less frequently, depending on what suits you.
All matches last for 12 months and include regular check-ins from the Macular Society. We’ll also make sure that, as your match comes to an end, you have the right support in place moving forward.
It’s up to you what you talk about. You might want to talk about your sight loss and how it’s making you feel. Or you might prefer to talk about other things to take your mind off your eye condition.
What’s most important is finding someone you connect with, who will really listen to you and provide that valuable companionship.
Befriending is not counselling or medical advice. It is a companionship service focused on regular conversation and connection.
"What I find most beneficial about befriending is the friendship and reliability, the positivity and the encouragement. It's an extremely well-managed service."
Rita, Befriending service user
Who is it for?
Our telephone befriending service is for:
- Anyone in the UK over the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with a macular condition
- People who may be feeling lonely, isolated, or finding day-to-day life more difficult due to sight loss
- People who would simply like a new connection with someone to talk to regularly
- Those who are unable to attend in-person support groups or social activities
Telephone befriending isn't just for people who feel lonely. Many people who use the service have family members and friends who support them. But sometimes it helps to talk to someone new who isn't part of your family or friendship group.
If you'd like to make a new, meaningful connection, befriending could be right for you.
How befriending can help you
Having someone to talk to is really important. Not everyone has family members or friends they can speak to regularly, and even those who do can benefit from talking to someone outside their usual circle.
Having regular conversations with an empathetic person you trust can help you feel less alone and more understood.
Telephone befriending can help if you:
- Would like a new connection with someone to talk to
- Feel lonely or isolated because of your sight loss
- Live alone
- Live in a rural area
- Cannot attend in-person support
- Have recently been diagnosed and would like additional support
You can talk to your befriender about anything – share your worries, discuss your experience of sight loss, chat about current events, or enjoy talking about your favourite hobbies, books or films.
Many people who use the befriending service tell us they feel more positive and supported simply knowing they have someone to talk to regularly.
"My befriender calls me every Thursday. We both have the same eye problems, so we can support each other, moan about our dry eyes, chat, and have a giggle. I always look forward to speaking to her and missed her when she was away on holiday! The calls help me to feel less alone, and it’s great to talk to someone who understands. I get to know about her family and she knows about mine. I feel well-supported.”
Jennifer, Befriending service user
What to expect from your befriender
Befrienders are not the same as peer supporters. Peer supporters all have personal experience of sight loss. While some of our befrienders have experience of sight loss, not all of them do. The most important qualities of a befriender are being a good listener, being empathetic and being reliable.
Your befriender will not give medical advice, act as a counsellor or solve your problems. They are there to provide companionship and regular conversation.
Everything you discuss will remain confidential. The only exception is if something you say suggests that your safety – or the safety of someone else – may be at risk.
While befrienders receive training, they are not qualified counsellors. If you feel you need emotional support or therapy, our counselling service may be more appropriate.
How to access telephone befriending
You can refer yourself to our telephone befriending service, or someone else can refer you with your permission.
To get started, you can either:
- Call our helpline on 0300 3030 111
- Complete our online referral form.
What happens next
We will speak with you to learn a bit more about you after you have sent a referral. We aim to get in touch within five working days.
We will ask you about:
- What hobbies you enjoy
- Your background
- The kind of person you think you would get along with best
- What you would like to get from having a befriender to talk to
We will then work on finding a match who shares similar qualities and interests with you.
Once a match is found, your regular calls can begin.
Your befriender will stay in touch with the Macular Society to let us know how things are going. They will not share the details of your conversations, as all discussions remain confidential.
All matches last for 12 months, with regular check-ins from the Macular Society throughout.
As your match comes to an end, we’ll make sure you have the right support in place moving forward.
Ongoing support
We’ll stay in touch throughout your time with the befriending service to make sure everything is working well for you.
Many people use befriending alongside other support services, depending on what they need at different times. If you feel you would benefit from additional support, we can help you find the right service for you.
Support services available to you
We provide free information and support to those with macular disease, along with their family and friends, to help people keep their independence.
Free counselling and emotional support for sight loss
Struggling to cope with macular disease or sight loss? Get free, confidential counselling from trained professionals. Emotional support for individuals and carers.
Find a support group near you
We provide virtual and face to face support, sometimes one to one and sometimes in group settings. We also run regional information events. So whatever your circumstances, there will always be an option that suits you.
Free confidential advice and support
Call our helpline on 0300 3030 111
Lines are open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
About the Macular Society Helpline
The Macular Society is extremely grateful to The Hearn Foundation for a generous donation of £1m towards our befriending service. The gift was made in memory of Marilyn Lee, who received support from the Macular Society following her diagnosis of wet age-related macular degeneration.