Visiting groups
Volunteer visits for people living with a terminal illness. Planned.
Trained volunteers visit people living with a terminal illness, at home or in a care home, for company and conversation.
Our visiting groups bring volunteers together with people who are living with a terminal illness, in their own homes or in care homes, across Scotland.
Our volunteers
Every visitor is trained, has a PVG check, and is supported by our team. They don’t give medical or legal advice, and they don’t talk about campaigning.
How it will work
We’re setting up our first visiting groups now. Here’s what we have in mind.
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Ask for a visit
You, or someone on your behalf, gets in touch.
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We introduce a volunteer
We introduce a volunteer who lives near you.
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Weekly or fortnightly
The visits start
Weekly or fortnightly, for as long as you want them.
Regular visits
A volunteer visits weekly or fortnightly, for as long as you want.
Keeping everyone safe
Before they visit anyone, every volunteer is interviewed, trained and checked through the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland.
Each volunteer has a named coordinator at Friends at the End to talk to after visits. Visits are agreed with you first, and you can stop them at any time, with no need to give a reason.
Questions people ask
- Who can ask for a visit?
Anyone in Scotland living with a terminal illness, or someone on their behalf, such as a family member, carer or nurse. You don’t need to be a member.
- Does it cost anything?
No. Visits are free.
- What will we talk about?
That is up to you. You can talk about your illness or about anything else.
- Can a visitor help with care or shopping?
No. Visitors come for company. They don’t give personal care or medical advice, and they don’t handle money. If you need practical help, we can point you to local services.
- What if it isn’t working out?
Tell us, and we’ll find someone else or stop the visits.
Volunteer as a visitor
We’re recruiting volunteer visitors. No experience is needed. Every volunteer is interviewed, trained and PVG-checked.
- Emailinfo@fate.scot
- Office0131 271 5971Our office line, not a helpline.
- PostFriends at the End, 42 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ