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

 
Blog Content Creator (Dementia & Care)
Young At Heart ULO CIC
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Blog Content Creator (Dementia & Care)
Volunteering
Community, Mental Health, Social Care, Older People, Health

If you’d like to help to collate and share information relevant to people living with dementia and their carers then this could be the role for you!

 
Warehouse Volunteer British Heart Foundation Home Store Darlington
British Heart Foundation Darlington
Min. 0 Weeks Minimum weeks
Warehouse Volunteer British Heart Foundation Home Store Darlington
Volunteering

We need warehouse volunteers to keep our stock moving from the van to the shop floor and warehouse when items are sold. This role can be physical so must be reasonably fit. We also have vacancies for flat pack furniture assemblers and Ebay assistants

 
Volunteer
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Min. 24 Weeks Minimum weeks
Volunteer
Volunteering

We are recruiting Discharge Support Volunteers and Volunteer Responders to join our growing volunteer team.

Related Articles

Volun-tees
Teesside Hospice Open days
Teesside Hospice Open Day
Volun-tees
Volunteering with the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
My Sisters Place Domestic Abuse Service Training
Ask Me Project 2023
My Sister's Place Ask Me project will continue in Spring 2023 with new dates to be announced early 2023.