SOMETIMES just a 10-minute chat on the phone can make a world of difference.

As part of the Oxford Mail’s Lonely this Christmas campaign, 10 people with just a few hours a week to spare are being asked to sign up as Phone Friends.

Age UK Oxfordshire has 32 kind-hearted people on its books who give a couple of hours a week to make older people feel less alone.

Co-ordinator Paula Donaldson, who operates from the charity’s Banbury offices along with the volunteers, said: “Phone friends make a real difference.

“It’s just a friendly call once or twice a week to a lonely person. It’s not a stranger who’s calling. They build up a friendship, know about the person and have a rapport.”

The reasons for people wanting a phone friend are myriad. Some are bedbound, others are recently bereaved, and others are only in their fifties but feel lonely nonetheless.

Mrs Donaldson said: “One gentleman was an abbot of a non-speaking order for 20 years and wasn’t used to speaking.

“Another was not afraid of dying, but he was afraid of dying and not being found, so we called twice a week to make sure he picked up.”

Mrs Donaldson, 49, started out as a phone friend herself about 12 years ago and eventually took up a paid position. She has run the service for two-and-a-half years.

Volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and Age UK Oxfordshire has everyone from retired professionals to young mothers to students on its books.

The rewards for those taking part can be rich. Mrs Donaldson said: “I used to absolutely love it. It’s so uplifting. I spoke to one lady for 20 minutes who said ‘I feel so different now. I feel much better and I’m going to go and make a cup of tea’. Another user calls us her invisible friends.”

In the past phone friends have also functioned as a crucial lifeline.

One volunteer called for an ambulance after one of her clients, who turned out to be in a suspected diabetic coma, failed to pick up the phone.

During severe floods in November 2012 phone friends had a 4x4 vehicle with food, blankets and a doctor sent to the home of a woman in her nineties who would have otherwise died of cold.

Mrs Donaldson said: “We are not the emergency services, but we have saved lives.

“Referrals have grown enormously recently. My aim would be for every person in Oxfordshire to know that there’s a phone friend there for them.

“You just need to be kind, caring and someone who would never rush anyone on the phone. If they want to talk, let them talk.

“If you’re unsure, come in and see us. See how we work and how other volunteers do it.”

Phone friends need only work for one or two two-hour shifts a week and will speak to about eight older people per shift.

Anyone interested in taking part is asked to get in touch with Age UK Oxfordshire by emailing volunteering@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk