Talking Bubble will be an over-the-phone befriending service that matches people to like-minded, trained volunteers with shared interests. Our multilingual service will aim to build bridges between communities and support people who are most at risk of loneliness by establishing a friendship.
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Most of us feel lonely from time to time. Things like social anxiety, moving to another country and not knowing the language as a first language, old age, and living alone can put people at greater risk. Additionally, the lockdowns have made everyone feel particularly lonely and isolated. Many people have lost loved ones, while some feel unsafe or feel unsupported by society. At the Dialogue Society, we believe nobody who desires to feel connected should feel lonely.
That’s why we aim to start “Talking Bubble”, a befriending campaign to connect and bring people together to tackle loneliness. In partnership with Time to Help UK, we will create a phone-befriending service that matches people most at risk of loneliness with bilingual volunteers to get in touch with one another, get to know, check in on each other, and most importantly create friendships that will make life better.
The majority of our befriending volunteers are also bilingual, speaking both English and a mother-tongue such as Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Greek, Kurdish, Turkish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and many more languages. People who use the service will be matched with trained volunteers who speak the same language and who share similar interests as them. Through these phone conversations, “Talking Bubble” aims to eliminate the impact of loneliness on mental and physical health, create strong social networks and most importantly build friendships.
Why volunteer with us?
- Make a positive impact on someone’s life
- Enjoy flexible volunteering hours
- Receive training and ongoing support
- Boost your own sense of fulfilment and purpose
The smallest gestures can go a long way.
To find out more about our service, please visit our website.
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