FEARS have been raised that a vital service for elderly people is losing volunteers because a three-month limit has been imposed.

Age UK’s befriending scheme is set up to reduce the isolation endured by many older people, especially after they have gone through bereavement.

Volunteers make regular visits to them in their own homes or call them on the phone for a chat.

But it has been reported that a new restriction limiting the service to three months has led some befrienders to give up.

Wiltshire Council health and wellbeing champion Ellen Blacker has alerted the Royal Wootton Bassett area board to the problem, prompting the panel to tackle Age UK Wiltshire with its concerns.

She told councillors that in the past the charity had offered a matchmaking service to provide elderly residents with friends whose interests and characters were compatible.

But now it was going to be offering a short term befriending scheme where the aim was to work with elderly people for up to three weeks to help them re-join the community.

However there were drawbacks. “Sometimes that isn’t possible,” she said.

And some existing volunteers were not happy with the change, believing there shouldn’t be a time limit on the friendships they formed with their clients.

“I know a number of volunteers have resigned because of it,” she said.

She urged the panel to support a call for a return to the old system and resist the change.

Age UK Wiltshire says it is currently undertaking a review of the service and, while that is taking place, it will only be offering short term befriending.

Area board chairman Allison Bucknell called on fellow board members to back an approach to the charity – a call that was backed unanimously.

“This area board is concerned about the effect that any fixed term restriction of the befriending service offered by Age UK Wiltshire will have on vulnerable housebound elderly,” she said.

“We will be writing to see reassurance that they will still be offering ongoing befriending services and that volunteers are not bound by the restriction of visiting individuals for a three-month period only, as currently rumoured.”

In a statement. Age UK Wiltshire said: “We have been looking carefully at how we can grow and develop our support and services for older people in the borough in a time of increased demand and competition for funding.”

It said the scheme would be altered to provide more tailored support to help people understand their circumstances better and tell them what support was available.

“They will receive one-to-one support for up to six months to help regain confidence and build independence and resilience, including information on and access to activities that match their goals and interests.

“In addition, we are launching a new Living Well service, working closely with GPs in the area to provide short-term support for more vulnerable older people. Older people will benefit from 6-12 weeks of support from a volunteer, additional support and services will be offered at the end of this time as needed.”

It added any existing friendships could continue informally.