Befriending

Walking Buddy

Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People are working to help people with sight loss get out of their homes and back into the community, leading to independence.

The scheme matches a person who is blind or partially sighted with a trained volunteer. The volunteer guides the person who is blind or partially sighted so that they can achieve their mobility goals. These could be things like being able to go to the gym, joining a local coffee group or just walking in the local park.

Mobile Befriending

Trained volunteer Mobile Befrienders use their own car to provide door-to-door transport to help visually impaired people attend a variety of social activities at Bury Blind Society, from Coffee Mornings to Knit and Natter.

Drivers will collect clients and return them home again as well as joining in with the activities.The service provides personal transport assistancefor elderly people, generally those with mobility difficulties, who are unable to use public transport, can not afford private transport or anyone whose relatives or friends do not have the means to help them.

'Phone Friends' Telephone Befriending

Phone Friends is for visually impaired people over the age of 60 who would benefit from the additional support a telephone friendship could provide. A call from one of our volunteer Phone Friends can help people who are:

  • Living alone or living away from family and friends
  • Socially isolated or lonely
  • Isolated from their immediate community due to visual impairment and sight loss
  • Recently out of hospital or experiencing a significant change to their daily living arrangements

Upon receiving a referral for Bury Blind Society 'Befriending Services' we will discuss the clients situation with them and come to an agreement as to the most appropriate service. This will be reviewed on a regular basis ensuring a tailor made service able to meet and adapt to a clients changing needs. There may be a small fee for the service which will be discussed and agreed prior to the commencement of the chosen package.

Referrals can be made direct by individuals, Adult Care Services, Hospital workers, Early Intervention Officer, Rehabilitation Officer.

Eligibility Criteria

Any adult (18+) with a visual impairment living in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury.

For more information please contact:
Bury Society for Blind & Partially Sighted People
0161 763 7014
isupport@buryblindsociety.org