Volunteer Befriender

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.