Volunteer

Who you will be helping

Our befrienders work people using our services who need some extra support. Most often, befriending is offered to parents or carers.

The difference you will make

People can become isolated for any number of reasons. It may be that their own mental health difficulties mean it becomes harder to go out and socialise. It might be because they are caring for someone who needs additional time and attention so it becomes too hard to fit in other activities.

As a volunteer befriender, you will be alongside someone, providing the practical and emotional support they need to re-connect with the community, overcome their challenges and build towards a positive future.

Typical tasks within this role:

• To provide caring, empathetic and holistic support to families.
• Meet and greet parents/carers and their children, making them feel welcome and relaxed.
• Signpost service users if a need for support has been requested or identified.
• Adhere to safe and agreed practices, including submitting your volunteer hours to [Employer hidden].

Who are we looking for?

There is no typical [Employer hidden] volunteer. We want our volunteers to be as diverse as the people we support. We need volunteers with a range of life experiences, skills and knowledge. In return for giving your time and talents, you will receive quality training, ongoing support, and the reward of knowing that you are making a real difference. This role will particularly suit volunteers who:

• Are empathetic and good listeners
• Have a non-judgemental approach to others
• Have good relationship-building skills
• Have an awareness of the need for professional boundaries when working with vulnerable people
• Have a warm, approachable and friendly manner
• Are able to understand the causes and impact of social isolation
• Are confident in new situations
• Basic computer skill would be helpful in some Befriending roles

What’s in it for you?

[Employer hidden] volunteers tell us that volunteering with us can be challenging at times, but it is also very rewarding. Many of our volunteers also report that volunteering has helped them with:

• Making a difference to the lives of people in your community
• Developing new skills; increased confidence and self-esteem
• Opportunity to improve future employment prospects
• Opportunity to build a portfolio of your training, skills, experience and qualities
• Being part of a team and becoming a part of [Employer hidden], a national charity with 150 years of experience supporting families
• Support and guidance from project coordinator including 1-1 and group supervision
• Regular training and development opportunities