Volunteer Befrienders

The role of a befriender is to provide informal and social support through meeting their young person on a fortnightly basis for a few hours – this can be to go swimming, bowling, help with homework at the library , out for dinner – many things, with the main focus being spending 1:1 time and building up a trusting relationship.

There may be some stated objectives at the start of the relationship, eg – raising confidence, joining a local group; the success of the relationship is not dependent on these being achieved but is seen to be an additional benefit of befriending.

What Volunteer Befrienders get in return

• Continued development of skills through undertaking initial volunteer training. Additional internal and external training opportunities offered regularly thereafter;
• Participate in a broad range of activities on a 1:1 basis with young person or as a group volunteer at group outings.
• Develop new interests and skill;.
• Opportunity to attend regular volunteer sessions facilitated by the Project. Sessions are tailored specifically to meet the needs of the volunteers and include a mixture of social evenings, information sessions and accredited training;
• Gain valuable experience of working with young people; and
• Satisfaction gained from giving something back to the local community.