A CHARITY are calling on volunteers to pick up the phone to someone who is alone this Christmas.

Voluntary Action South Ayrshire (VASA) are appealing for befrienders to help tackle isolation over the festive period.

Their South Ayrshire Lifeline Telephone Befriending Service was launched in March to help people through the long, lonely months of lockdown.

Over the winter months the demand for their service has been increasing as South Ayrshire spent weeks in Level 4 coronavirus restrictions.

Now they want to recruit extra befrienders who can spare 20 minutes once a week to have a blether.

Carey McCabe, the service’s Volunteer Co-ordinator, told the Advertiser: “We’re now in the countdown to Christmas which sadly, for some people, is the

loneliest time of the year – and never more so that this year.”

“If you have 20 minutes to spare once a week, you like to have a blether and can offer a sympathetic ear, you could really make a huge difference to someone’s life and we would love to hear from you.”

Befrienders, who make calls from their own homes, are carefully matched with someone in South Ayrshire who needs a phone friend. It could be an older person but many younger adults also rely on the caring service. Training and full support is provided for volunteers and expenses are paid.

The key qualities VASA are looking for in their telephone befrienders are good communication skills, a friendly, honest and trustworthy nature and a passion for improving the lives of people who are lonely.

A PVG is required for this role but this will be arranged for anyone who does not have a current one.

If you are interested in becoming a telephone befriender and would like to find out more, please contact Carey on 0800 432 0510 or email carey@vasa.scot