A MySight York volunteer in a hi-vis vest and an older woman enjoy ice cream cones at a colourful table outside York Art Gallery, with an ice cream van behind them, a folded white cane on the table and a rollator parked alongside.

Support & Activities

A little company: sharing time together

A regular chat, a shared interest, or simply having someone to spend time with can make a real difference to your wellbeing.

Our free befriending service supports people across York and the surrounding areas to stay connected and involved in the things that matter to them. Our volunteers provide a friendly, reliable presence, offering conversation, encouragement, and support to help you remain active in your community.

Finding the right match is important and can take time. Before a match can be made, we need to complete an initial meeting, matching review, and any bespoke volunteer training required. While timescales vary, this process typically takes around 4-6 months.

Is befriending right for you?

Our befriending service supports adults who are experiencing loneliness or social isolation and would benefit from regular companionship. This service might be right for you if:

You have a visual impairment and are aged 18 or over

You have limited support from family and friends

You are feeling isolated and would welcome regular company

You live within the City of York boundaries

You would benefit from chatting to someone with lived experience of sight loss

You are adjusting to sight loss and would value regular companionship to help build confidence and stay connected

Not sure if befriending is right for you? Get in touch and let’s talk it through.

Get in touch

How befriending works

Support that works for you

Everyone’s journey with sight loss is different. We’ll work with you to understand what matters most to you and, where appropriate, match you with the befriending option that best suits your needs and preferences.

In Person - Home Visiting

Home Visiting Volunteers do more than visit clients at home; they help bring the wider world to them, encourage confidence, and support positive change. From building confidence when out and about or providing occasional practical support.

What you might do together:

Sort through paperwork or photographs together
Go to a local café for a chat over a brew
Attend local activities or events together

Our approach to home visiting:

Befriending is rooted in enjoying experiences together, not a volunteer doing things for you. The person you are matched with is there to make the most of time spent with you, not to take over, or patronise you.

Important to know:

Volunteers are not there to provide personal care, do household chores, or grocery shopping. Instead, they offer companionship and a friendly ear.

Availability:

Befriending is available to people living within the City of York Council boundary. Visits usually take place on a weekly or fortnightly basis, for between 1 and 2 hours.

Over the Phone - Keeping in Touch

If you are happier to stay connected from the comfort of your own home, regular phone calls offer a simple, pressure-free way to keep in touch.
Regular phone calls are a chance to:

Hear a friendly voice at the end of the phone
Share your news, and thoughts with someone
Talk to someone who truly understands living with sight loss
Talk through ways to manage your daily routines, or try something new

Our approach:

Just like in-person visits, these phone calls are rooted in making genuine connections. Conversations are relaxed and shaped by you.

Availability:

Available to anyone in York and surrounding areas Phone calls can usually be arranged on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis.

Volunteer and client are seated in a living room with a patterned rug and blue walls. One person sits in an armchair in the foreground wearing a pink shirt, while another sits on a sofa holding and reading from an open book.

What happens next?

Get in touch Contact MySight York’s team by phone, email, or fill in a short enquiry form. We’ll start with a few simple questions to build a good understanding of what you are looking for.
A friendly chat We’ll have a relaxed chat about the befriending service, your interests, and what kind of support would be the best fit for you.
Getting matched We’ll carefully match you with someone who shares similar interests and can support your individual needs, arrange your first visit or call.

Matching can take a little time, depending on availability and individual needs, but we’ll give you a clearer idea of timescales when we speak with you.

Two men walk along a residential street, one holding the other's arm to guide him as he uses a white cane.

Making a referral

Referring someone to the befriending scheme?

If you’re supporting a family member or friend who you think would be interested in the befriending service, you can refer them to MySight York. It is a straightforward process and you can rest assured, we’ll take time to understand their needs and interests. Please ensure that you have permission from the individual, before you refer them to MySight York. Finding a suitable volunteer takes time.

Getting started with befriending

If you have more questions about our befriending service, or you want to take the next step, get in touch with our team. There’s no pressure to make any decisions straight away. We’re here to talk through your options.

Call us on 01904 636269 Email hello@mysightyork.org