Befriending Scheme

Volunteer Befriending offers an excellent opportunity which provides training, support, supervision and all expenses paid. Male and Female Volunteers are needed to offer support to people experiencing mental health problems whilst engaging in social activities. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are keen to recruit volunteers from Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

What is the Befriending Scheme?

City and Hackney Mind provides a befriending service to people who are experiencing mental health problems and are socially isolated.

What is a Befriender?

A Befriender is a trained Volunteer who has undergone a selection process. Volunteers have an interview, provide references and undergo a police check, induction and ongoing training.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are three types of volunteer opportunities within the Befriending Scheme:

• One to one Befriending
• Group Befriending
• Respite for Carers

What is involved in Befriending?

Befrienders offer regular social support to a person experiencing mental health problems on a one-to-one basis or through a befriending group. Clients who have a carer, the Befriending Scheme offers respite to the carer for the period the client is with the Befriender.

Befrienders build up a reliable and trusting friendship with their client/s whilst engaging in a social activity or outing. There are a range of activities that you might engage in with your client, the following are just some of them: going to the park or the cinema, swimming, seeing a show at the theatre, visiting a museum or gallery, having a meal or just going for a walk or coffee.

Why choose befriending?

• Clients recognise they want a bit more out of life but find this difficult to achieve alone at this time and would benefit from some support.
• Whilst most of us take other people in our lives for granted and we see going to the cinema or for a coffee as part of our everyday routine, for people who are socially isolated doing such an activity with someone else means such a lot.
• By sparing 2 to 4 hours once a week or fortnight, Befrienders can really make a difference to someone else's life. Befriending can have a positive effect for everyone involved, the client, the volunteer and the carer in some cases.
• Having a Befriender can help by, reducing loneliness and isolation, increasing social skills and self confidence, establishing links within the clients local community and promoting independence.

What do you require from Volunteers and how much time and commitment do you need to give?

• You must be 18 years or over.
• You must be willing to commit to a minimum of one year.
• You must attend an induction and ongoing training.
• You must attend quarterly individual supervision and bi-monthly group supervision.
• You must have experience or be willing to learn about mental health problems.
• You must be understanding and non-judgmental.
• If involved in one to one befriending you must be willing to see your client for 2 to 4 hours once a week or once a fortnight.
• An agreement will be made between you, the client and the Co-ordinator on the frequency, the length of each meeting and the length of the friendship for one to one support.
• If you are involved in the group befriending you must be willing to commit for 2 to 4 hours once per fortnight.

What will the scheme offer you?

• an opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge through training.
• an opportunity to meet new people.
• a chance to engage in social activities and outings.
• gain valuable experience working with people with mental health problems.
• ongoing support and supervision on an individual and group basis.
• all expenses reimbursed.

How do you become a befriender?

To make an application you will need to:

• Make contact with the Co-ordinator.
• Complete an application form and provide two references.
• Participate in a selection process. Volunteers will have to undergo an interview and a police check.

Once accepted you will be offered a place on the next training course.

Could you be a friend to someone in need? Would you like the opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge and meet new people?

Someone really does need your help ... Become a befriender ... You really can make a difference .

Befriending and Carer's Service Co-ordinator

Cyrillia Francis
Cyrillia.francis@cityandhacklneymind.org.uk
0208 525 2316