Bring Companionship Home
Help tackle loneliness and fund a digital companion for an older person waiting for Age UK 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, are friendly digital companions that simulate human presence through real conversation.
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.
What Can You Do?
Support Our Work
Every contribution helps bring companionship to vulnerable older adults in South Gloucestershire.
Personal Plans open in early 2026 for anyone not sponsored through Age UK South Gloucestershire. Sign up for updates to be among the first to know when they’re available.
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
Comfort Companions is now being used within Age UK South Gloucestershire’s community services, with a focus on supporting older adults on the charity’s befriending waiting list. These are individuals who often experience the deepest loneliness and digital exclusion. With guided onboarding from local Age UK staff and volunteers, Comfort Companions offers round-the-clock conversation and reassurance while people wait for human contact.
Alongside this, we are preparing to extend the service into Age UK South Gloucestershire’s Time4You carers programme to support dementia-affected households with companionship and, from 2026, structured memory support.
In partnership with the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Age UK South Glos, the University of Exeter and various NIHR research teams, we are continually improving Comfort Companions so the service meets real-world needs, provides relief for unpaid carers and strengthens confidence and independence for people experiencing loneliness or cognitive change.
Together Against Loneliness
Comfort Companions helps fill the gap for those still waiting for contact.
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, they 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.
- You can read our full Privacy Policy for more details about how your data is protected.
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.