- About us
- Our Services
- Good Friends
Good Friends is about creating a network of informal volunteers who share their time with people in need of extra support - Health & Wellbeing Activities
A range of groups and activities to help you to stay healthy as you get older - Befriending
Companionship for lonely and isolated older people who just need somebody to talk to - Computing & Internet
Volunteer-led sessions to help older people get online and stay safe - Respite Day Care
A safe, stimulating environment for your relative that encourages social interaction - Veterans Support Service
A range of specialist services tailored to the needs of veterans in Darlington - Information & Advice
Offering free, confidential advice around benefits, housing and more - Ex Forces Support
Telephone befriending, support, signposting & guidance for older veterans across North Yorkshire - Community Minibus
Low-cost Minibus hire for community groups, with drivers available - Café Refresh
Providing nutritious meals in a sociable, volunteer-led environment - Three 4 Darlington
Three 4 Darlington is an information hub open for the public to receive advice and support on a range of topics in the Town Centre. - The Swadford Centre
Based in the heart of Skipton, The Swadford is a welcoming environment to enjoy tasty meals and socialise. We also offer Room Hire from the Centre. - Home Care & Support
Quality home support and care to enable older people to maintain their independence - Handyperson Sevice
A low-cost, reliable Handy Person service for residents of Darlington - Free Home Energy Saving Equipment
Older residents in Darlington can take advantage of free energy-saving equipment fitted by a trained handyman that can help them keep warm and save money.
Health & WellbeingSupport & AdviceCommunityHelp at Home - Good Friends
- Activities & Events
- Special Events
Extra special one-off events not to be missed, ranging from event days to fundraisers. - Classes & Activities
Ranging from dance classes, to art, IT and music, there's sure to be something for you. - Support Groups
There's a peer support group for everyone, from stroke club to veterans group. - Lunch Clubs
Our lunch clubs offer nutritious, sociable lunches in a relaxed setting.
What's OnTypes of ActivityBrowse by Area - Special Events
- Get Involved
Partnerships & Corporate Social Responsibility
We work with a wide range of organisations to create lasting partnerships
Working together for mutual benefit
Our partnerships make us stronger, they enable to deliver more services to a wider group of people.
Each of our partnerships is unique and we can work together to find a mutually beneficial and rewarding partnership that works for you and your company or organisation.
Membership of our Corporate Partnerships allows your company to be strongly and visibly identified with our brand and facilities, whilst publicising your company’s commitment to good corporate social responsibility.
Your company can get involved in a range of ways, including:
- Volunteering staff time & skills on a specific project that helps our customers
- Nominate us as your Charity of the Year
- Provide Payroll Giving to our organisation
We thank our partners through inclusion in our publications, including our annual report brochures, advertising within our quarterly What's On (3500+ readers) and at special events throughout the year.
Our Current Partners
We work with over 100 partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors to share knowledge, best practice and develop joint initiatives. Without partnerships, many of our projects wouldn't exist such as Good Friends, or our Lunch Clubs.
Recent Partnership projects include:
Telephone Befriending with EE
Not having someone to talk to regularly can be lonely and isolating, particularly if you’re used to sharing your home and time with others. A friendly chat on the phone can make all the difference. Working with EE, we trained employees to telephone befriend vulnerable older people. EE employees are carefully paired with an older person and utilise their employer supported volunteering time to call their befriendee each week.
Safe and Well Visits with CDDFRS
Working with County Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service, we support the referral process for their Safe and Well Wellbeing Visit. Fire officers visit vulnerable people to perform Safe and Wellbeing checks. This could include smoke alarm installation to assessments of individuals based on their health and lifestyle. Vulnerable individuals identified as requiring further support are referred to Age UK North Yorkshire & Darlington service. The aim is to provide additional support and practical help to improve an individual’s health and quality of life.
Joint minbus with MS Society and Darlington Rotary
A common need brought our Customers, the MS Society Darlington & District and the Rotary Club of Darlington together to fundraise for a Minibus. The minibus has enabled individuals to access much needed transport to go trips and excursions.
Three 4 Darlington with Durham Constabulary & CDDFRS
Working with Durham Constabulary and County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service, we have open an information store. The idea is that information and support from ‘Three’ Services operating for (4) Darlington can be accessed in a ‘one stop shop’. In addition, individuals can sign up to become volunteers for our service.
