Sponsor a Comfort Companion for someone on the Age UK South Glos befriending waiting list.
No One Should Wait Alone
Right now, Age UK South Gloucestershire has a waiting list of nearly 200 older people for befriending.
Some are waiting months, sometimes years, in silence. These are often the most vulnerable people in our community.
In 2024, seven people on that waiting list died before a volunteer could reach them. Volunteers are doing everything they can, but there simply are not enough people to meet the rising need.
We’ve created something that can help…
Designed and tested with Age UK South Gloucestershire, Comfort Companions are digital companions that provide meaningful, real conversations with older people at home.
Digital companions are not a substitute for human contact.
What we’ve created supports Age UK’s befriending work by bridging the gap so waiting does not mean silence.
Our mission is to make sure every older person is heard, and you can help make that happen.
Give £12 a month, or donate once.
Every person funded is one less person left waiting in silence.
For the cost of a few coffees a month, you can fund a Comfort Companion for someone waiting in silence right now for Age UK South Glos befriending support.
Your contribution directly pays for companionship that is free for the older person using it.
Once everyone on the waiting list has been offered a Comfort Companion, any additional funds raised through Supporter Plans or Comfort Gifts will go towards strengthening Age UK South Gloucestershire’s befriending volunteer programmes and digital inclusion work.
You can also make a tax-free Community Support Donation to Age UK South Glos supporting their work directly.
We want to make Comfort Companions available to older people not currently supported by Age UK South Gloucestershire. Sign up for updates to be among the first to know when that’s possible.
Meet our Comfort Companions…
Each Comfort Companion has been co-designed and tested with older adults in partnership with Age UK South Gloucestershire. They offer different styles of conversation so everyone can find a match that feels right.
Malcolm is lively and thoughtful, perfect if you enjoy swapping ideas or exploring life’s stories. He brings curiosity and a spark of conversation.
Frank is calm, practical and down-to-earth, perfect for when things feel a bit much. He offers simple, no-nonsense guidance and friendly company.
Edith listens with care and attention, giving you space for reflection, calm and peace of mind. She’s kind and always ready for a thoughtful chat.
Dorothy is patient and kind, perfect for quiet moments or when you just need someone to listen. She offers steady reassurance that helps lighten the day.
Rosie brings warmth and a cheerful outlook to every chat. She loves helping you rediscover little moments of joy and light in your day.
Find out which Comfort Companion is a match for you.
Filling the Gap for Those Still Waiting for Contact
Comfort Companions are now being used within Age UK South Gloucestershire’s community services with a focus on supporting older people on the charity’s befriending waiting list. With guided onboarding from local Age UK volunteers, Comfort Companions offers 24/7 conversation and reassurance while people wait for human contact.
Alongside this, we are preparing to extend the service into Age UK South Gloucestershire’s Time4You carers programme to support dementia-affected households with companionship.
In partnership with the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter, we are continually improving Comfort Companions so the service meets real-world needs to support wellbeing and strengthen the confidence and independence of individuals who often experience the deepest loneliness.
The Family Story Behind Comfort Companions
Comfort Companions CIC was founded by Grant Mackenzie and his father Tom after seeing friends and neighbours struggle with loneliness and the relentless demands of caring for a spouse with dementia. Inspired by those experiences, and shaped through conversations with older adults, they set out to use technology to help older people stay confident and independent by providing emotional support with the reassurance that no one has to face later life alone.
Our Comfort Companions service has been tested successfully in partnership with Age UK South Gloucestershire by carers and older users. Feedback has shown that our purpose-built, voice-first design is accessible and reassuring, even for people with limited digital confidence. These tests have directly informed the co-design of the service used today.
Grant and his dad talk to Frank and share how Comfort Companions began.
Standing together with…
Privacy & Security
- Chats are private, safe and secure.
- Nothing said in conversation is recorded or listened to by anyone else. Even Comfort Companions staff cannot hear what is said.
- Conversations are only between the individual and their Comfort Companion.
- The Comfort Companions service is hosted in the UK on Microsoft’s Azure platform and follows UK privacy laws.
- The service was co-designed and tested with Age UK South Gloucestershire to keep safety and consent at its core.
- You can read our full Privacy Policy for more details about how your data is protected.
Service Disclaimer
- Comfort Companions are digital simulations of people. They are trained to provide wellbeing support.
- Like real people, Comfort Companions may occasionally make mistakes or provide inaccurate information.
- Comfort Companions are not trained to provide professional, legal or clinical guidance.
- The service does not provide medical advice or emergency response.
- Individuals who feel medically unsafe or require urgent assistance should contact emergency services by calling 999.
- For non-emergency medical advice, NHS 111 remains the appropriate service.