Volunteer Befrienders provide telephone or face to face support for lonely/isolated residents of Hartlepool who live alone, building their confidence to access social groups and get out and about in the community.

What You'll Do: 

Loneliness and isolation can result in a decline in an individual’s physical and mental health, which can result in risks to the individual’s safety such as the inability to self-rescue in the case of a fire.  If we can reduce loneliness and isolation, we can increase safety and reduce risk.   

 

Volunteer Befrienders telephone or meet with their matched person, typically on a weekly basis, with the aim of reducing loneliness and isolation and to improve their well-being.   

 

Initially, volunteers may be visiting clients in their home for a friendly chat over a cup of tea and will hopefully build to accompanying clients on short walks, outings or to attend local social groups. With the intention of building the client’s confidence to participate in these activities unaccompanied and perhaps eventually become volunteers themselves.

 

There is also opportunity for volunteers to support the Befriending Service in delivering activities for our clients to attend in the community.

Why You'll Love It: 
This is a great opportunity to support your local community and make a real difference to people's lives.  You will build new relationships, have access to training and support, and be able to develop your skills and experience for your future career.  References are available for future opportunities that you want to pursue.   
What You'll Learn: 
Volunteers will be required to complete induction training, which includes information on record keeping, professional boundaries and confidentiality.  Volunteers are also required to complete safeguarding training prior to being matched with a client.    This is also a great opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and experience in working with socially excluded members of the community.   
What We're Looking For: 
Potential volunteers must be able to provide a commitment of 1 hour per week minimum, ideally for a minimum of 1 year.  Volunteers must enjoy working with people, be a good listener, reliable, committed and caring, have excellent English language skills, and have the confidence to be able to support clients 1:1.    Potential volunteers will be required to complete the volunteer registration form, have a telephone or face to face interview, undergo a DBS check and provide 2 references in the application process. 
Summary
Volunteering
Community
Social Care
Older People
Disability
Health
Hartlepool
52 Weeks Minimum
1 Hours / Week
Skills you will develop: 
Active listening
Empathy
Interpersonal / Confidence
Requirements: 
DBS check
Over 18
Phone Interview
Training

Similar Opportunities

 
Do Good, Feel Good, Keep Boro Tidy Community Litter Pick
Volun-tees
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Do Good, Feel Good, Keep Boro Tidy Community Litter Pick
Volunteering
Community

Keep Boro Tidy Community Litter Pick As a Do Good, Feel Good event, come and join us to give back to our community.

 
Community volunteer - environment work
Middlesbrough Council
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Community volunteer - environment work
Volunteering
Community, Environment

The Community Development and Cohesion Workers from Middlesbrough North are in need of support. They are completing a door knocking exercise in the Newport area of Middlesbrough and are talking to peoples about their environment.

 
Events Volunteer
Daisy Chain Project
Min. 4 Weeks Minimum weeks
Events Volunteer
Volunteering
Community, Young People, Disability

Do you thrive on connecting with people and take real pride in keeping things well-managed behind the scenes? Join us as an events volunteer to champion our story and drive fundraising efforts multiple times a year through our calendar of events!

Related Articles

Girlguiding Cleveland
GIRLGUIDING UK
Find your place in our team of inspirational women, sharing their skills and passions with girls. Enjoy the opportunities guiding has to offer.
Samaritans
SAMARITANS
Volun-tees were approached by a group of Interior design and architecture students keen to work on a live project. Samaritans was chosen for a room...
Volun-tees
Heather Carabine
"Volunteering was essential - it gave me the knowledge I needed about working with patients so that I could answer the questions fully at my job...