Visiting & Befriending
“The knowledge of social well-being and of reform can be learned not from books, nor from the public platform, but in climbing the stairs to the poor person's garret, sitting by their bedside, feeling the same cold that pierces them, sharing the secrets of their lonely hearts and troubled minds.” Blessed Frederic Ozanam - the Society's Founder |
Visiting those in need and sitting side by side with them remains the core work of the Society. Regular visiting and personal care, with relationships based on trust and friendship are what gives the SVP its unique character.
Visits are made to individuals and families, to the sick at home or in hospitals and hospices, to residential homes and to offender institutes. Loneliness, especially among the elderly is growing, so members spend a lot of time visiting housebound people to prevent them from feeling isolated. Many appreciate a friendly face and enjoy a chat over a cup of tea, knowing that someone cares. Support may extend to doing shopping, decorating, gardening, filling in official forms and ensuring they are receiving their statutory benefits.
Visiting prisoners is a specialised work, and can be done in a number of ways. It is possible to become a regular prison visitor, but many more just visit an individual prisoner at their request or assist the prison chaplain. Help may be given to prisoners' families by visiting them at home or by providing child-care during prison visits.
In 2005/2006 over 625,000 visits were made to those in need, including visits to people's homes, hospitals, residential and care homes and visits to prisons.
Approximately 113,500 people benefited from these visits. Through these visits members can make an enormous difference to people's lives. The visit may be supplemented with additional material assistance - in 2005/2006 there were 114,418 cases of material assistance provided.
Volunteers and members spent 21,895 hours per week doing SVP work.
The aim is to help those in need to be as independent as possible and to be happier as a result of the contact with the Society. Beneficiaries should be aware that they are valued and respected as individuals, secure in the knowledge that there is someone to whom they can turn for a helping hand or a sympathetic ear.
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