When the Kent Messenger team heard more than 100 people are on a waiting list to find a friend, we decided to help.

We have launched our Give The Gift Of Friendship campaign and we are asking you to give an hour a week to talk to an isolated person in your area.

In Maidstone, Tonbridge, West Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, 108 people are waiting for a suitable volunteer while 72 have been matched with someone.

Working with the West Kent Befriending Service, a collaboration between Age UK and Mind, this campaign aims to have 100 lonely people matched with friendly volunteers by Christmas and you can help make that happen.

Wendy Pfeiffer, befriending service manager at Age UK in Mill Street, Maidstone, said: “In a time when so many of us lead such busy lives it is all too easy to forget there are people, maybe even our neighbours, who feel lonely every day. Loneliness does not necessarily mean being alone, but can be a feeling of having no one who cares about you.

"Many older people do not get to see their friends due to lack of mobility or transport or ill health. They may have wonderful family support, but they miss having a friend to chat to.”

Ron Reeder, from Maidstone Mind in College Road, which supports adults with mental health problems, said: “Many individuals are becoming isolated due to issues around anxiety and depression and often family members and friends are unable or unwilling to help.

“The client may never have had anyone listen to them and it’s easier to talk to someone outside the family as they don’t feel they’re burdening those close to them.”

Earlier this year, West Kent Befriending Service delivered 3,000 leaflets to homes in the Maidstone area pleading for volunteers and not a single person came forward.

David Faulkner, 47, has been volunteering for a year and is paired with Carol Groombridge.

David, from Southborough, works full-time as a project manager for UK Power Networks at Gatwick Airport, but visits Carol in the evenings or at weekends.

"Everyone can do this. Just knocking on the door and saying hello is all it takes," volunteer David Faulkner

He said: “I’m very lucky I’ve got a number of friends and a big family and I felt I could give something back. It’s about what they want to do. Sometimes I just listen but I get a lot of satisfaction from listening to Carol’s stories.

“Everyone can do this. Just knocking on the door and saying hello to someone is all it takes and you can build it up slowly from there.”

David and Carol talk about films or look at old photos and when the weather improves they intend to go on trips.

Carol, who is 67 and wheelchair-bound, said: “If I’m not feeling 100%, David’s visits make me much better – we have a good laugh.

"I don’t have children and I was only seeing my brother and sister-in-law about twice a week before I joined the befriending service. I didn’t think it was for me but I’m glad I was persuaded.”

Wendy said: “We are really grateful and excited to be working with the Kent Messenger. The most precious gift you can give someone is your time. It would be wonderful if we could give each person on our waiting list the gift of friendship this Christmas.”

Anyone over 18 can volunteer. Basic training will be given before volunteers are checked and matched with suitable clients. To find out more call 0800 048 4668, email befriending@ageukmaidstone.org.uk or click here to visit the West Kent Befriending Service Facebook page.