ONE CALL AWAY

Telefriend — Connection — Support

For many older LGBTQ+ people, especially those living alone or estranged from family, loneliness can be a daily reality. LGBT Ireland’s Telefriending service offers a simple and powerful intervention—a regular phone call from a friendly, trained volunteer who listens, chats and connects.

Recent research shows that Ireland is the loneliest place in Europe, with over 20 per cent of people indicating that they experienced loneliness. This can have a big impact on people’s lives and mental health. According to www.campaigntoendloneliness.org, loneliness can increase the risk of early mortality by 26 per cent, and chronic loneliness can increase mental distress by 60 per cent. These issues can be further compounded when the person is also a member of a marginalised community.

Through operating the National LGBT Helpline and associated supports, LGBT Ireland is keenly aware of the impact of loneliness and isolation on LGBTQ+ people throughout the country, particularly those over 50. The issue was further highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, and in October 2021, LGBT Ireland launched the Telefriending service in a bid to address this.

While this service is currently small, it is vital in helping to reduce the isolation frequently experienced by members of our community. LGBT Ireland’s Telefriend Coordinator describes the service as aiming to “break that cycle of loneliness”, and this is often true for both the service user and the volunteer.

Service users receive a weekly telephone call from a trained and vetted volunteer at a day and time that suits them. When a service user initially reaches out, the team will chat to them about their needs, circumstances and interests before linking them in with a suitable volunteer for an initial call. Calls then take place weekly, unless otherwise agreed between the volunteer and service user. LGBT Ireland receives Telefriend referrals from social workers, community development workers, friends and family, as well as from individuals themselves.

Feedback on the initiative has been resoundingly positive from both volunteers and service users. Volunteers have found that a genuine connection builds up with the caller through the ongoing relationship and that it becomes “a real friendship”. Service users feel that it has increased their confidence, helping them to socialise more, come out to family and access local supports and services. One user described their telefriend as “inspiring”, and another said that the service has “changed my life.”

For LGBTQ+ people, having spaces where we can be ourselves is so important. LGBT Ireland volunteers help to provide this space, even if only for an hour a week. There is no requirement for Telefriend service users to be publicly out about their sexual orientation or gender identity; LGBT Ireland’s team will handle information sensitively and call at a time that is convenient to the user.

As LGBTQ+ lives become more visible, it is important that we continue to acknowledge the members of our community who remain isolated and pushed to the margins, particularly older members who may feel that the majority of supports and social events available are aimed at young people. Telefriending not only provides a support call and a listening ear for someone, but volunteers can also access a directory of services available around the country and can help signpost service users to local opportunities when and if they would like this information.

So if any of this sounds like you, or someone you know, please do reach out to telefriending@lgbt.ie or 01 437 1209 and the team will be happy to talk you through the service. You can also find out more on www.lgbt.ie/telefriending.

If you would like to volunteer with the Telefriending service, please visit www.lgbt.ie/volunteering and complete an application form.