BEFRIENDER

 

WHY VOLUNTEER

Lots of us lead busy lives and it can be hard to find time to volunteer. Cyril Flint Befrienders offer a flexible model of volunteering structured to suit you. Once you are matched with a person to befriend you are able to decide between yourselves when visits take place. Perhaps weekends may be better, or you are able to pop to visit someone on your way home from work – as long as you can commit to an hour a week it’s easy to factor volunteering into your weekly routine.

Our befrienders come from all walks of life and range from to 18 to 76+ and include students, parents of young children, part time and full time workers and retirees.  You are likely to be suited to befriending if you enjoy talking to others and love to listen.

The benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family, and your community. The right match can help you find friends, reach out to the community, gain confidence and even advance your career. Perhaps you are keen to get something to update your CV or gain new skills. Volunteering can also help protect your mental and physical health.

The role of a befriender is an intensely rewarding one. We see many long term friendships develop and flourish. It’s mutually beneficial and gives you chance to make a real difference to another person’s life.

Additionally, you will receive ongoing support as a volunteer with us. We are on hand to help with any queries throughout your volunteering journey and love hearing your befriending stories!

We run volunteer social events throughout the year and our volunteers often come together to help out with our fundraising events when they can.

If you would like to get involved, consider one of our other volunteer roles: Fundraiser, helping to raise vital funds to keep our charity operating and reaching lonely members of our community; Admin Assistant, as you can imagine there’s lots of work going on behind the scenes to keep the charity running smoothly, we’re always pleased when people can spare some time to help out in our offices; Telephone Befriender, taking the time to call an older person once a week, breaking up their week and giving them a new friend to talk to on the phone. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss joining us in our mission to end loneliness.

 

BECOME A VOLUNTEER BEFRIENDER

Cyril Flint is an established befriending service that currently covers Greater Manchester. We rely on Volunteers to spend an hour a week to visit a person (usually in their own home) befriending a person on a regular one-to-one basis. This may be someone who lives alone who has little or no contact from friends and family with limited community support. Knowing someone is popping in once a week can make a huge difference. Our aim is to help reduce social isolation and loneliness in older people in the local community.

Befriending is a distinct type of support which is different from the practical or functional day to day support provided by the statutory services or other paid workers, who are under a professional obligation. The older people know the volunteer is visiting them because they care and enjoy their company and this can really help boost an older person’s self esteem and give them something to look forward to each week.

Our volunteers will pop round, maybe for a brew and a chat and just like a true friend will always take time to listen to you and share life’s ups and downs. We have seen some fabulous and long term friendship’s develop and flourish!

MAIN TASKS OF BEFRIENDING (NOT ALL TASKS HAVE TO BE MET)

  • Chatting and listening to the Befriendee in their home (Most commonly this is all the older person is looking for)
  • Short walks with the Befriendee for example to the local shops, libraries etc.
  • Help to build confidence in order to join community groups/day clubs
  • Assistance in locating local facilities and accessing services
    Please note a volunteer befriender will not be asked or involved in meeting any personal care needs.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for people who can spare an hour a week and possess the following skills and traits:

  • Caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgemental approach.
  • Reliable and Trustworthy
  • Understanding of confidentiality
  • Good commination skills, good listener

TIME COMMITMENT

We ask our Volunteer Befrienders to dedicate at least one hour per week to visit an older person (Befriendee) that they are matched with; to have a chat with them and give them some much needed interaction.

Please note all of our volunteer befrienders are required to attend an informal recruitment evening and are required to complete an enhanced DBS check (no charge for this). Volunteers must be 18 years old or over.

To apply, please contact Ruth via email.