As part of the Befriending and Re-ablement Service Age Concern Liverpool and Sefton hold free bi-weekly Companion sessions throughout Sefton. The Companion groups are held in Southport, Bootle, Seaforth and Maghull.

• Southport – Atkinson – bi weekly - Thursday afternoons

Many older people become somewhat isolated or lonely as they get older. We provide companionship groups where people can meet and make new friends and 1 to 1 home visits for people who aren’t yet ready to face a group situation, but would like some company.

The Befriending and Re-ablement service has been operating for over three years in Sefton and is established as a premier service for helping older people increase their independence, improve their confidence and overcome loneliness.

If you are aged over 50, live in Sefton and are registered with a Sefton GP, you will be able to access this free service which is funded by both NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG.

People who attend say it has made a real difference to their lives. ‘I do feel a lonely lady except for the friends I now have at Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton. The main thing is the hope that it brings me into my life.’

Another said ‘I really enjoy going to my companions group, I have made so many new friends. We have fun and play games, it is nice to know I have something to look forward to’.

To find out more details please contact a member of the team on 01704 542 993
Or email: info@ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk
Website: http://www.ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk/

Age Concern Liverpool and Sefton are proud to be part of Sefton Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Consortium (SAMHAWC). SAMHAWc and its members are supporting the ‘30 Days of Sefton In Mind’ Campaign - to spread the word about local services and activities available to people in Sefton to improve their mental health.

Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. In England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week.

The overall number of people with mental health problems has not changed significantly in recent years, but worries about things like money, jobs and benefits can make it harder for people to cope. In Sefton there many activities and services that happen in the community every week, that you might not even know about, which could improve your mental health and help make life a little easier.

So, from World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) to World Mental Health Day (10th October) we are going to spread the word about local services and activities available to people in Sefton. Look out for the hashtag #SeftonInMind and join in by telling us about good local services and activities that have helped you.