A caring, listening presence in Guildford.

Community Angels is a befriending project for vulnerable adults of any age. This may include those who face loneliness, isolation, illness or other personal difficulties.

Our volunteers visit people in their homes, providing companionship and support to reconnect with the local community.

Support is personalised and may range from chatting over a cup of tea to going for walks, trying a new activity, or accessing other types of help. Some adults may require short-term support through a difficult time, whilst others may benefit from longer term visits.

Making a Referral
Anne Thornton
Community Angels Project Co-ordinator
Susanna Hoar
Community Angels Project Support

How do we help?

Community Angels provide help and support in the following three ways:

Befriend

Offering companionship and a listening ear

Connect

Adults with other activities and support in the community

Empower

Individuals to make decisions and take action for themselves

Could you be a community angel?

    • Are you 18 or over?

    • Do you have compassion for adults facing difficulties?

    • Can you commit visit someone around once a week at a time to suit you?

    • Enjoy building relations?

    • Do you have the ability to empower others?

    • Can you work independently?

    • Are you prepared to attend initial training?

All community Angels are offered initial training and ongoing regular support, as well as opportunities to share with other volunteers. You can view our 2021 Community Angels Info leaflet here

Please contact us to find out about our next training or volunteer meeting. You are welcome to come along to explore if this role could suit you before making a commitment.

A similar project was previously run by Guildford Diocese but had to end in 2016 due to funding cuts. There was a high demand for this service and the project was missed by referrers, volunteers, family members and those receiving support, especially due to the wide range of needs which were addressed. The Chaplaincy strongly felt this was a project that needed to be re-launched and we have now been running Community Angels alongside the other GTCC projects since January 2018.

Speaking of the support her father had received, we were told ‘[The befriender] had continued to visit my father until he was too ill for visitors…. I am quite convinced that these visits are hugely beneficial to people whose lives have been narrowed down by illness or disability.’  A local charity reiterated the value of the scheme: ‘the project was a lifeline to some of our referral clients and as we all know there are many more very isolated people in the community needing support like yours.’

Making a referral

Are you worried about someone you know who may be lonely, isolated, or facing other difficulties in life?

We receive referrals from a range of organisations including health and social care professionals, charities and the police. We will also take self-referrals from the individual or from family, friends or members of the community.

Please contact us to find out more about receiving help or making a referral.

“We’re all becoming more aware of how many lonely people there are who won’t reach out and there needs to be someone to make that first step and that first connection”

GUILDFORD COMMUNITY WARDEN

Contact Community Angels

Need more information about Community Angels, want to make a referral, a donation or get involved?

Email Community Angels
Get Involved

Or call Anne Thornton on: 07825 799309
(Usual working days: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday,)

Follow @ComAngelsGFD to keep up to date