Open Ear Foundation

Who we are

Open Ear Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to relieving loneliness, social isolation, and emotional distress across the nation. We provide a free, confidential, volunteer-run listening and companionship service available by telephone and online video for anyone who needs someone to talk to.

We believe that being truly heard can change a person's day, and sometimes their life. We offer a warm, non-judgmental space where people can speak openly, without pressure or agenda. Where additional support is needed, we signpost callers to appropriate professional and statutory services.

We are a small but passionate organisation, powered entirely by people who care.

Our culture and values

Everything we do is rooted in compassion, respect, and human connection. We are a listening organisation in every sense not just in how we serve our community, but in how we work together.

We value every volunteer, trustee, and supporter as an individual. We cultivate a culture of psychological safety, where people feel comfortable speaking up, asking for help, and being honest. We take the emotional wellbeing of our volunteers seriously, particularly given the nature of our work, and we invest in support, supervision, and community.

We are guided by integrity, humility, and a genuine commitment to the people we exist to serve.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Open Ear Foundation is committed to being an inclusive organisation where everyone is welcome as a volunteer, trustee, or service user, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, as protected under the Equality Act 2010.

We actively encourage applications from any race, people with lived experience of loneliness, mental health challenges, or social isolation. We believe diverse perspectives make our service stronger and our community richer.

We do not and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or victimisation in any form, and we are committed to continuously improving our practice in this area.

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