Bring Companionship Home
Help tackle loneliness and fund a free digital companion for an older person waiting for befriending support.
Right now, Age UK South Gloucestershire has a waiting list of almost 200 older adults seeking connection through their befriending service.
In 2024, seven people on that list died before a volunteer could reach them. The reality is that there simply aren’t enough volunteers to meet the rising need as people live longer and face increasing isolation and loneliness.
Our mission is to ensure no one dies in need of someone to talk to.
Comfort Companions, co-designed and tested with Age UK South Gloucestershire, bring gentle, voice-first conversation to older adults and unpaid carers.
The service complements and adds value to the existing befriending and digital inclusion work of volunteers, providing extra support for those who might otherwise be waiting months for contact.
Comfort Companions don’t replace human connection, but for many, a digital companion is far better than silence.
Our not-for-profit service provides friendly, always-on companionship that helps people feel heard and connected every day.
When someone joins a Supporter Plan, their subscription directly funds a Comfort Companion for a person waiting for Age UK South Gloucestershire befriending support.
Once every person on the waiting list has access to a Comfort Companion, any additional funds raised through Supporter Plans will help strengthen Age UK South Gloucestershire’s befriending volunteer programmes and digital inclusion work, supporting older people to stay more connected with the world.
Personal Plans, launching in early 2026, will let people bring that same gentle companionship into their own homes.
How It Works
£12/month funds access for someone on Age UK South Gloucestershire’s befriending waiting list and supports volunteer work at the charity.
Personal Plans will be available early 2026 for anyone not sponsored through Age UK South Gloucestershire.
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.
Take our quiz to find out which Comfort Companion is a match for you.
Working Together for Real-World Impact
The Comfort Companions service is being used in Age UK South Gloucestershire’s Time4You initiative. Since September 2025, the 12-month has been bringing together Age UK’s trusted community services and our purpose-built digital companions, offering round-the-clock support to people in need of befriending and to dementia-affected households, helping them stay confidently independent at home.
In partnership with the NHS, Age UK, the University of Exeter and NIHR research teams, we are continually improving Comfort Companions to ensure the service meets real-world needs, provides relief for unpaid carers and promotes confidence and independence for those experiencing loneliness or cognitive change.
“We’re So Grateful for Comfort Companions”
Real people. Real stories. A shared mission to make sure no one is left waiting alone.
Built from Experience, Driven by Purpose
About Comfort Companions CIC
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, we 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.
The Family Story Behind Comfort Companions
Grant and his dad share how Comfort Companions began, and how you can help bring companionship home.
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.
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.