Cowal Elderly Befrienders SCIO provides a range of Befriending Services designed to improve quality of life, reduce isolation and loneliness and keep older people independent and active for as long as possible in the communities they helped create. We have been active in the Cowal and Bute areas of South West Argyll since 1996 - 30 years this year!

Why the community needs us

Population predictions have long suggested there will be large increases in the numbers of older people in Argyll and Bute and a converse decrease in the numbers of working age people. This is especially the case in Cowal and Bute where recent NHS stats record over-65s as making up 32% of the population as opposed to 26.4% in Argyll and Bute or 19.6% in the rest of Scotland. We need to provide more support now and recognise that we will need to continue to increase capacity in the future.

Many of the older people we see have become isolated when they have developed health conditions associated with older age such as mobility challenges, sensory impairment or dementia. Concurrent rural isolation often makes it difficult for them to socialise and remain connected with others or access local services in the area

Our impact on the community

We work with older people and the local community providing regular free support to around 200 people each week across Cowal and Bute, including rural and remote rural communities