Reading Friends Volunteer for Stockton Borough Libraries. As a Reading Befriender, you'll be helping to tackle loneliness in your local community by using books and reading to share stories and start conversations over the telephone.

What You'll Do: 

Reading Friends is all about reading, whether that’s books, magazines, newspapers, or anything else, chatting together and having fun. You don’t have to be an expert in literature to take part. All that’s needed is a love of reading and a desire to help people feel more connected in their community.

As a Reading Befriender, you'll be helping to tackle loneliness in your local community by using books and reading to share stories and start conversations over the telephone.

Reading Friends is a national programme developed by the Reading Agency and administered in Stockton by Stockton Borough Libraries

Role

  • To make a weekly phone call to an individual who has registered to use the service.
  • To carry out a 30-60 minute phone conversation with a focus on reading but not exclusive to reading.
  • To provide a listening ear and friendly voice to people who may be feeling lonely. 
  • To provide a non-judgemental, open minded environment for the individual to share their thoughts.
  • To raise any concerns to the Reading Friends co-ordinator should any additional needs or services be identified.
Why You'll Love It: 
Our volunteers have found they enjoy and look forward to their weekly phone call with their Reading Friend. You will make friends and enjoy talking about a subject you both love.
What You'll Learn: 
You'll develop communication and listening skills. 
What We're Looking For: 
Skills required A love of reading and the desire to share this with others. We will aim to match you with a service user with similar interests. A friendly and welcoming manner. Good communication and listening skills with the ability to build rapport through conversation. Open minded and non-judgemental attitude. The ability to identify where concerns need to be raised with the Reading Friends Co-ordinator. Patient and sensitive approach and the ability to empathise with people. Reliable and trustworthy. The confidence to read to others. Ability to follow guidelines/instructions. Have the initiative to work without supervision
Summary
Volunteering
Mental Health
Older People
Arts
Stockton
10 Weeks Minimum
1 Hours / Week
Skills you will develop: 
Active listening
Communication
Empathy
Requirements: 
DBS check
Phone Interview
Training

Similar Opportunities

 
Welcome buddy
Teesside University - Wellbeing and Community
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Welcome buddy
Volunteering
Community, Mental Health, Young People, Culture, LGBTQ

We are looking for student volunteers to help us support new students in feeling welcome at Teesside when they first arrive and during their first year at university.

 
Supporter Champion Volunteers
Teenage Cancer Trust
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Supporter Champion Volunteers
Volunteering
Young People

Could you support us to make Teenage Cancer Trust by becoming a Supporter Champion volunteer. We are looking for volunteers who can help us to share volunteering opportunities news and updates from the charity via social media.

 
Volunteer Animal Care Assistant
Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Volunteer Animal Care Assistant
Volunteering
Community, Mental Health, Animals, Education, Environment

Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary (Charity CIO 1185213) is a rescue and rehabilitation charity for orphaned, injured and sick wildlife. Our main centre is based in Whitby, YO22 4NW and we are seeking volunteers to assist with the animal care work.

Related Articles

Volun-tees
February Newsletter
February Newsletter! Welcome!
Volun-tees
Spring 2025 Newsletter
Spring 2025 Newsletter!
Volun-tees
Organisation Spotlight - Boro Angels
Volunteering Opportunity!