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What Is the Befriending Scheme?
and how can it help me
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Volunteer Befriender's
needed
can you help?
application
form
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- What is the
Befriending Scheme?
- How do people access the Scheme?
- What are the
benefits of Befriending?
- Who shall I Contact?
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- How can you help?
- What is in it for me?
- A Befriender
is
- A Befriender
is not
- What is required to become a volunteer Befriender?
- Who to contact for an application pack.
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1. What Is the Befriending Scheme?
It is a self-referral scheme that
matches Volunteer Befriender's with people who
may experience mental health related issues who can become isolated and
lonely.
Volunteer Befriender's
encourage people in doing some of the things that people take for granted
such as going for a coffee, shopping or going to the gym.
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Would you like to be part of an
exciting new project and help to make a difference to people’s lives?
Mental health Matters
values the unique contribution made by volunteers and is committed to
working in ways that support and encourage volunteers.
- How
can you help?
Volunteers have an
important role to play in assisting people who because of poor mental
health or emotional issues may be experiencing difficulties in doing some
of the things we generally take for granted i.e. going out for lunch or
going to the cinema.
As a Befriender
volunteer your role will give people the confidence to access different
facilities in the community.
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2. How do people access the scheme?
Step 1
Firstly you will need to complete
a request form. These
are available to download or from the Community Volunteer Co-ordinator.
(Download
here)
Step 2
An informal meeting will take
place with you and the Community Volunteer Co-ordinator
who will then consider whether your needs match the requirements of the
scheme.
Step 3
You will then be matched with a potential
volunteer based on compatibility. On the first few meting the Community
Volunteer Co-ordinator will be present to offer
support to both the volunteer and the person who wants to be part of the
Befriending Scheme.
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2. What is in it for me?
People get out of befriending the
satisfaction that they are in a mutually rewarding befriending
opportunity, where they see the other person grow and develop
self-confidence and independence. For some volunteering is an opportunity
to gain valuable training and experience. Above all befriending gives
people the chance to feel useful and enjoy the company of the person they
visit.
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3. What are the benefits of the scheme?
Some short term advantages:
·
Rekindles
peoples interest in things
·
Impacts
on physical as well as mental health
·
Gives
time out from everyday stresses
·
Increases
social skills
Some long- term advantages:
·
An
improved quality of life
·
Greater
self-esteem and confidence
·
Improved
decision making
·
People can
begin to form and maintain new relationships/friendships
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3. A Befriender is:
·
A friendly face
·
A listening ear
·
Someone who
offers understanding
·
Reassuring
·
Someone who
encourages self-confidence
·
Someone who can
give consistent time
·
Helpful and kind
·
Non-judgmental
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- A
Befriender is not:
·
A
medical professional
·
A social
/support worker
·
A taxi
service
·
A counsellor
·
A cook cleaner
·
Judgmental/compulsory
·
Forever
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What is required for a Volunteer Befriender?
Volunteers on the scheme
are required to have a CRB check and have to have two references from
people who know them well , but cannot friends
or relatives. There are no formal Qualifications required all we ask is
that people are good listeners, respect peoples rights, recognize the
need for confidentiality and reliability are all important.
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application
form
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As everyone is an individual then benefits of befriending are countless
and non-specific, however research has indicated befriending improves
people’s quality of life as people try out new experiences. Befriending
offers numerous opportunities for people to gain access to different
recreational and educational facilities. One very important impact that
befriending has is that it helps to reduce social isolation and leads to
better social inclusion.
Contact
If you or anyone you know would be interested in the
Befriending Scheme then contact:
Andrea Beard
Community Volunteer Co-ordinator
bef.scheme@mhmbcb.com
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