To befriend someone is 'to act as a friend to someone, and to offer assistance or provide comfort at a time of loss. Or just to smile and say ‘hi’.’

But for many older people in west London, this is exactly what they are lacking. Families get their own lives and move away, friends move on or pass away...for those who are isolated, it can be a very lonely existence.

But Octavia Foundation’s befriending scheme, currently running for over 50s in Westminster, provides invaluable help, support and company for those who cannot get out and about easily to mix with other people.

Joe Geary, 27, has been visiting 84 year-old Philip from London, since May this year.

Joe said: “I love coming here. He’s such a character. My Grandad sadly passed away and I felt like I wanted to give something back, I wanted to help someone around his age.”

So he was introduced to Philip, who rarely gets out and about due to illness, and the pair of them hit it off right away.

Philip said: “He’s great. He comes round once a week and we have a chat and a laugh together.”

And the pair seem to have formed a genuine friendship, with both of them looking forward to their time together, despite an age gap of nearly 60 years.

Nearby in Droop Street, James Codgell, 50, has been cycling to 90 year-old Ida White’s house once a week since July.

He has been out of work for a while, and is hoping the volunteering experience can get him back into employment.

He said: “It’s a great experience. I just like meeting new people and chatting, so to get to talk to someone like Ida is great. We talk about all sorts of things.”

And Ida agrees. Her daughter has moved away, and though she visits as regularly as she can, James provides some welcome company.

She said: “He’s very nice, very friendly. It’s lovely spending time talking to him.”

Philip and Ida are just two of more than 100 older people who have benefitted from the outreach and befriending programme since it launched in 2011.

Octavia Foundation receives around 12 new referrals a month, for people who would benefit from the scheme, and this is on the rise.

Many of those who are partnered up just spend an hour chatting and keeping each other company, but the befriender's responsibilities depend upon what they are comfortable with. Many get out and about, help around the home, and provide support with whatever is needed.

Catherine Andrews, volunteer co-ordinator at the charity, said: “We have more older people needing befrienders than volunteers, We really need male befrienders and those with second languages, particularly Arabic and Chinese, but we always need all kinds of people from a variety of backgrounds.

“A befriender is matched up to someone we think they will get on well with, and a lot of them hit it off straight away. And there is a real diversity of people, both among the befriendees, but particularly in the befrienders.

“We get all ages, and people doing it for a variety of reasons, whether it’s because they want to help others, they might have had a bereavement or something life changing and want to do something productive with their time, or because they want to add skills to their CV.

“But we can carefully match these people, who we ask to commit to an hour a week, with isolated older people who would enjoy their company.”

The Befriending project is funded by the Octavia Foundation, Octavia Housing, Westminster Council and NHS Westminster. But the charity is looking to extend it into Kensington and Chelsea.

Octavia Foundation currently has more older people needing befrienders than volunteers, so is currently operating a waiting list. It is looking for more volunteers so as many people as possible can benefit from the service.

For more information on Octavia Foundation and the befriending programme, visit www.octavia.org.uk

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A BEFRIENDER?

* Octavia Foundation is looking for people with good communication skills, empathy, those who are reliable and trustworthy, who understand confidentiality and who can use their own initiative.

* Each befriender should commit to one hour per week for a year.

* Applicants first fill out an application form, before the charity gathers references.

* The application is followed by an interview, before potential befrienders are told if they have been successful.

* All potential volunteers are then given an Enhanced Disclosure Check.

* Two evening training sessions are held covering health and safety, confidentiality, empathy, and the ways the organisation works.

* A volunteers' forum is set up to meet other befrienders and share experiences.

* The matching process can begin, with Octavia working to put those with similar interests, or those they think will get on, together.

* To get involved, call Catherine Andrews on 020 8354 5681 or email volunteering@octaviafoundation.org.uk.