Befriending Scheme

What is a Befriending Service?

 
The befriending service is an integral part of the Wellbeing Service It is a service which, apart from the coordinator, is delivered exclusively by volunteers.
 

Who is the Service for?
Wellbeing befriending service is a city-wide service for people experiencing mental health problems. Befriending may help people who are on the road to recovery and need short-term support, or be aimed at individuals whose long-term mental health difficulties mean they are more likely to experience a limited social life. It is important to note that all befriending partnerships are time limited.

Wellbeing Befriending provides opportunities for:

• being valued and respected
• experiencing a period of stability with a reliable, trustworthy person
• being involved in a managed relationship
• a period of respite for the recipient and/or their carer
• proding hope that life can be better

What does a Befriending Volunteer do?

A befriender is a volunteer who has offered to undertake regular visits or ‘outings’ with a service user. One of the main purposes of befriending is to address the isolation, loss of confidence and lack of motivation that can develop with mental health problems. Both parties will meet up on a regular basis and share an activity together. What that activity is, is entirely up to the befriender and the service user provided it is ethically viable, affordable and practical. Typical activities undertaken by mutual interest are: walking; cycling; swimming; bowling; gardening; trip to town; going for a coffee etc.
You may be thinking about being a volunteer, about receiving the service or about referring someone in your care to the service. Whatever your perspective you will shortly find the information you require in the links below.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer befriender please click on the link below

Volunteer Befriender infomrmation

Wellbeing General Infomation

Wellbeing information for Referrers

'Anyone interested in Volunteering for Befriending must be able to give at least an 18 month commitment'.