BEfriend - Mental Health Volunteer Befriender

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BEfriend is a registered charity (no 1072538) established in 1994. We provide one-to-one volunteer befriending to people within the London Borough of Ealing who are socially isolated because of physical, sensory, cognitive or psychological impairment.

Details of the Volunteering Opportunity:

As a Volunteer Befriender you will befriend a cared for person, spending up to 2 hours with them to provide a short break for their carer. Some clients are completely housebound, so visits will take place in their home and you can chat with them, listen to any concerns that they may have or maybe enjoy an activity like a crossword or playing a board game.

Befrienders will meet up with clients for 1-2 hours each week for a year.
Befrienders will provide companionship and build an open, trusting connection with clients.
Befrienders will bring hope.
Befrienders will offer emotional support.
Befrienders will help clients gain a better understanding of their mental health, of their diagnosis and of how these affect their lives.
Befrienders will work with clients to think about how they would like life to be and plan how to get there.
Befrienders will work alongside clients to help them develop their social skills and confidence.
Befrienders will work alongside clients to help them develop ideas of how to alleviate their loneliness.
Befrienders will encourage people to pick up old interests and discover new ones by engaging with activities in their local and wider communities.
Befrienders will help people to find and access things in their local and wider communities.
Befrienders will empower clients to make positive choices about what they want to do.
Befrienders will provide written feedback to the project coordinator monthly and raise any concerns or queries with project coordinator as soon as they occur

Skills Required:

To have good listening and communication skills
To be passionate about supporting individuals affected by mental health problems to achieve life-changing goals.
To be inspiring, creative and motivational in your support.
To be non-judgemental, genuine and emphatic
To see beyond the diagnosis to the person.

Additional Benefits:

You will become part of a network of volunteers with regular training opportunities, meetings and social gatherings
Free training, a reference after someone has volunteered for at least 6 months.
Volunteering Hours to go towards the Brunel Volunteers Award
Volunteering achievement recognised on your HEAR Transcript