Mantell Gwynedd - Ffrindia' Newydd Project

Ffrindia' Newydd Project

Ffrindia' Newydd project is currently on pause, please contact us for more information.

Welcome to the Ffrindia' Newydd befriending project! The scheme was set up to try to support individuals in the community who experience loneliness, promoting their self-confidence and independence. The main objective of the scheme is to recruit and support volunteers to befriend individuals over the age of 50 who need some company, a confidence boost or support to reconnect with their community.

Befriending means providing companionship and friendship to those who need it. Ffrindia' Newydd offers a friendly chat, support to go out for a walk or to use public transport and help to take part in local clubs or activities. Ffrindia' Newydd volunteers do not provide personal care, manage day-to-day financial affairs or offer transport to health appointments. Social services, third sector organisations, social prescription teams, family or friends can refer individuals who would benefit most from this scheme to us. Self-referral is also an option.

The Importance of the Project

Loneliness can have a profound impact on both physical and mental health, with research showing it can be as harmful as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. For many people in rural communities like Gwynedd, barriers such as limited transport, bereavement, declining health, or a lack of local social connections can make it difficult to build and maintain meaningful relationships.

Our befriending project offers a simple but powerful way to make a difference. By giving just a little bit of your time, you can help reduce loneliness, improve someone's wellbeing, and provide regular companionship that gives them something positive to look forward to.

The aim of the project is:

To increase the independence and confidence of individuals who are on the outskirts of the community
To provide volunteers with a meaningful experience and personal satisfaction
Reduce loneliness and create strong and friendly communities!

Case Studies

The Power of Companionship (PDF)

Connection that Counts (PDF)

A Cuppa and Connection (PDF)

Project Report July 2025 to June 2026

Ffrindia' Newydd Project Report (PDF)

GET INVOLVED – WE WANT YOU!

Are you a social and friendly person? Do you have a few hours to spare? Make a difference in your community - volunteer with us!

Whether you are a person who is keen to volunteer and enthusiastic to take part in this exciting project or know someone who you think would benefit from receiving companionship, this project is for you!

Click on the link below to learn more about the role!

Volunteer Befriender - Role Description (PDF)

HOW TO JOIN

For more information about volunteering or to refer someone to the service, contact the project officer:

ffrindianewydd@mantellgwynedd.com / 01286 672 626

Volunteer registration form

Individual referral form

Testimonials

“We see Social Value as a major vehicle for change and improvement driven from the base up via our stakeholders and front-line staff. Training all our staff has already brought a clear focus on our core themes through value maps. This wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance and support of Mantell Gwynedd”

Paul Frost, The Outdoor Partnership Social Value Champion, and Member of the Board of Directors

"The Social Value Cymru team at Mantell Gwynedd supported staff in our organisation as well as those we work closely with when engaging volunteers in understanding how the questions posed to current and potentially new volunteers would enable us to discover what we are doing well and how we can improve on engagement strategies within communities surrounding our estate.
Social Value Cymru’s support has been critical to our work and their recommendations have enabled us to make realistic amendments as we review our Diversity & Inclusion Policy alongside our Volunteer Engagement Strategy for the next 3 years."

Kirsten Manley, Engagement and Communications Officer, The Woodland Trust

“This session has been invaluable in cascading my understanding of measuring per se”

- North Wales Measure and Manage your Social Value Project participant

“The evaluation carried out by Mantell Gwynedd has enabled us to provide evidence as to the social value and impact the Change Step project has on veterans, their families and the communities they live in. From a quality perspective it has also reassured us that the work we do has an impact not only from a financial perspective but also that it breeds confidence in our service provision and those who commission our service. As a third sector organisation, which is reliant on grant funding, this level of evaluation is essential for ongoing sustainability and developing new services. The customer care aspect demonstrated by Mantell Gwynedd was second to none and their grasp of our project from the outset was very impressive”
Geraint Jones, Director of Partnerships and Development for CAIS Cyf.

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