Volunteer Befrienders Volunteer Roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you enjoy meeting new people and chatting?
Do you have an hour to spare weekly, chatting to an Older Person on the Telephone?
Are you happy to provide two referees and complete a DBS check, ( free of charge)?
If so, we would love to hear from you?
Methodist Homes (MHA) is seeking Volunteer Telephone Befrienders to support our members and residents in various locations nationwide.
Through specialist care homes, thriving retirement living and vibrant community groups and befriending, we inspire the best care and wellbeing at every stage of later life.
With 80 years experience, we put people at the heart of everything we do in all our homes, schemes and community services across Britain.
The ideal individual will have an understanding of the needs of Older People, be kind and compassionate and enjoy the company of Older People.
What training and support will be provided:
- We will provide you with a full induction for the role
- Training on safeguarding, health and safety and other training and updating of skills and knowledge relevant to the role as appropriate
- Ongoing support from a named contact
- Dementia Friends online course-(if you wish)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (as needed)
Times and Commitment
· We ask that you make a minimum of 4-6 months commitment to this role
· We ask you to be able to commit on a regular basis, to be agreed with your named contact
We will guide you through an application which takes 2-3 weeks. You will have a dedicated Recruiter, who will meet you on a video call.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Volunteer - Homeline’s tele-befriending service!
Do you have an hour to spare each week? Want a simple remote volunteer role you can fit around your busy life?
Look no further! Homeline is a befriending project for older people in Hammersmith and Fulham.
We are looking for volunteers to remotely call a few isolated older adults per week. These calls make such a difference and are often the only phone call a person will receive all week!
A flexible role ideal for volunteers who work during the week and have less time to commit. Join our friendly team and enjoy the benefits of full role training, DBS and continued support.
Get in touch, join our friendly team and enjoy the benefits of full role training, DBS and continued support.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you enjoy meeting new people and chatting?
Do you have an hour to spare weekly, chatting to an Older Person on the Telephone?
Are you happy to provide two referees and complete a DBS check, ( free of charge)?
If so, we would love to hear from you?
Methodist Homes (MHA) is seeking Volunteer Telephone Befrienders to support our members and residents in various locations nationwide.
Through specialist care homes, thriving retirement living and vibrant community groups and befriending, we inspire the best care and wellbeing at every stage of later life.
With 80 years experience, we put people at the heart of everything we do in all our homes, schemes and community services across Britain.
The ideal individual will have an understanding of the needs of Older People, be kind and compassionate and enjoy the company of Older People.
What training and support will be provided:
- We will provide you with a full induction for the role
- Training on safeguarding, health and safety and other training and updating of skills and knowledge relevant to the role as appropriate
- Ongoing support from a named contact
- Out of pocket expenses in accordance with MHA’s Expenses Policy
- Dementia Friends online course-(if you wish)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (as needed)
Times and Commitment
· We ask that you make a minimum of 4-6 months commitment to this role
· We ask you to be able to commit on a regular basis, to be agreed with your named contact
We will guide you through an application which takes 2-3 weeks. You will have a dedicated Recruiter, who will meet you on a video call.
Still interested? Great, apply to me via indeed and we can arrange a meeting within a few days, to do your informal interview.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Purpose of role:
With an ageing population, more and more older people are at risk of isolation and loneliness as partners and friends pass away, family members move away and the community around them changes at a fast pace. As a Befriender, you will become part of the solution to tackling the issues of isolation and loneliness by developing strong relationships with clients and encouraging them to engage in a variety of ways.
Main activities/tasks:
- Visit or call an older person once a week for around an hour
- Spend time getting to know them and understand what things they may like to do at home (e.g. chess, knitting, reading)
- Offer healthy and fun conversation and encourage them to talk
- Give support to enable them to get out in the community and encourage participation in activities
- Promote healthy living and wellbeing
- Accompany them on visits out of the home e.g. going for a walk, shopping
- Support them to find information
- Make monthly reports on visits carried out
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join our team of befrienders! You will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in your community to reduce their feelings of loneliness, build friendships and provide support for mental wellbeing. You will support people to relight a spark to continue a hobby, interest or encourage them to explore and participate in new social activities.
What you will be doing
- Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
- To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
- To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
- To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
- Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals
The skills you need
- Good listening and communication skills
- Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
- Willingness to engage in activities in the community
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Midland Mencap is a charity which works and campaigns for accessible and inclusive services and a better quality of life for everyone with experience of learning disabilities and additional needs
Purpose of the role
With your friendly attitude and knowledge of the local area, you could be the support a Midland Mencap citizen needs to access and enjoy their local community and make a big difference to their lives.
Some of our citizens may be dealing with a variety of difficulties including depression, isolation, physical and mental health problems, Your role will be to help them to enjoy their local community in the way that they want; this may include activities such as going shopping, attending an event, visiting a park or a local facility – and having fun.
What would I be doing?
·Visit a Midland Mencap citizen
·Accompany them to agreed community locations and activities
·Provide a befriending support role to ensure the citizen enjoys a positive experience
· To record and maintain basic records as required
·To ensure the activities undertaken complies with safeguarding, equal opportunities, health & safety and other policies and the guidelines provided by Midland Mencap.
What do I need?
· Being approachable and friendly
· Good communication skills
· Knowledge of, and able to travel to local places
· Accepting of others who might be different to you and the ability to work as part of a diverse team
· A willingness to learn and act within guidelines set out by Midland Mencap
· Good time management skills, reliability
· An enhanced DBS check will be required by all successful applicants.
When and where do you need me?
· A minimum of 2 visits per month
· Days and times are flexible and agreed in advance, but there may be some specific activities the citizen wishes to attend
· In the local community
What’s in it for me?
As one of our valued volunteers, Midland Mencap will offer you:
· The opportunity to make a difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and their family carers
· An induction and settling in period
· Any training and development that is needed
· The chance to develop your skills and gain experience
· The opportunity to meet new people and be part of a diverse team
· Support within your role
· Any out-of-pocket travel expenses
· Lots of appreciation for your amazing contribution
· Positive wellbeing from doing something great
· Improve career opportunities by adding your volunteer role to a CV and ask us for a reference
To campaign for and deliver accessible and inclusive community health and wellbeing support services for individuals, families, and carers.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Hestia is looking for a Volunteer who is passionate and committed to help deliver support to people who struggle with their mental health. Do you want to be a part of helping to rebuild lives? We are recruiting for a befriender Volunteer for when people to provide social or practical help. It can take a number of forms such as mentoring, listening, education, informal group discussions or participating in a shared activity.
What you will be doing
- To maintain regular contact with our Service User, carrying out regular support and meetings with them.
- To encourage the Service User to develop their own support networks.
- To develop positive relationships, maintain boundaries and confidentiality
- To keep a time log and other monitoring information as requested by the Service.
The skills you need
- Good communication skills
- Friendly and calm nature
- Mental health experience who feels strong enough to help others
- Willingness to listen to people with a genuine enthusiasm to support others
- Confident, sympathetic and can inspire trust and able to maintain boundaries in a non-judgemental way
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.
***This is an unpaid voluntary role***
Make an amazing difference in someone’s life through being a friendly face connecting them with the outside world, reducing isolation and loneliness and bringing a much-needed smile to their day.
Our award-winning Kilburn Good Neighbours scheme has been a lifeline for over 60s in Kilburn and West Hampstead for almost 25 years. Volunteers visit members regularly in their homes, building a relationship with them and working with the Kilburn Good Neighbours lead to communicate any additional needs they have. Some volunteers also support with odd jobs like shopping, escorting the member to the centre or DIY tasks. Training and induction is provided.
Qualities you need for this role
- Chatty, friendly, open-minded people, preferably living locally
- Able to maintain good boundaries
- Reliable, dependable and great at timekeeping
- This role requires an enhanced DBS check, which we will organise
When you'll be needed
- A minimum of 1 hour per week, for a minimum of 6-12 month
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about supporting people in your community? Would you enjoy supporting our service users by giving them an opportunity for social connections?
If so, we could do with your help. We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic Face to Face Befriender Volunteers for the Kensington and Chelsea area and would like to hear from you.
What you will be doing
- Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
- To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
- To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
- To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
- Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals
The skills you need
- Good listening and communication skills
- Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
- Willingness to engage in activities in the community
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Could you help prevent loneliness and isolation for people living with BPD and become a befriender?
- Do you have 1-2 hours a week to give to a service user suffering from BPD and feeling isolated or lonely?
- Can you offer support, through a listening ear and be a positive influence in a service users life to help build self-esteem and confidence?
- Will you enable our service users to benefit from knowing someone is there to listen, be a friend, and check in on their wellbeing?
If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!
Key responsibilities
Your role will include, but is not restricted to the following tasks:
- Carry out weekly checks with the service users you are supporting, this may be over the telephone or via Teams.
- Engage the service user and help empower them
- Help service users to rediscover social skills and confidence by building up and maintaining a close relationship
- Keep accurate records of calls and sessions
- Report any concerns to the Volunteer Coordinator
Skills required
No qualifications or volunteering experience is required, but the following skills are essential:
- Be aged over 18
- Must have lived in UK for 2+ years
- A non-judgemental approach
- Good listening and communication skills
- Empathetic and compassionate
- Reliable and trustworthy
- Respect confidentiality
- Be able to work on own initiative
- Ability to build effective working relationships with service users
- A DBS check and 2 references are required for this role
What we offer
- a comprehensive induction program
- training on safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety and other training relevant to the role
- ongoing support and supervision
- the chance to meet other volunteers and take part in volunteer events
- reimbursement of pre-agreed expenses
At Watford & Three Rivers Refugee Partnership, our objective is to provide practical and emotional support, ultimately helping our clients achieve a sustainable position as full members of our society. Many of our clients are destitute, homeless and have no access to assistance from the government. Our mission is to provide access to advice and essential services until statutory services are in place.
Volunteering at the Drop-In centre provides an opportunity for you to help our refugee clients with any issues they might have. We have sessions running every Tuesday between 11am and 1pm at St Mary’s Church, High Street, Watford. The Drop-In provides an opportunity for refugee clients to come and discuss any issues they have and to be listened to by one of our volunteers. Many of our clients are likely to have lived here for a while but an issue or crisis in their lives means that they need to discuss it and seek some help. They may also be in the process of seeking asylum. We can provide advice and sometimes resolve their issue there and then and at other times we refer them to another agency or invite them to come back once their issue has been looked into.
The Drop-In Centre could not function without our team of committed volunteers, and we are always looking for additional help.
Full training given on starting the role as well as regular training sessions and continual support from more experienced volunteers.
Responsibilities:
· Help with filling in forms and interpreting official documents.
· Liaising with statutory and voluntary agencies.
· Referring clients for follow up action by our Case Review Team and linking them with a befriender.
· Referring clients to our partner solicitor who specialises in immigration law and comes to the Drop-In 4th Tuesday of the month.
· Advice on how to access appropriate housing and free food in the area.
· Access to the charity’s other services, such as free English classes.
Requirements:
· Able to attend at least one Tuesday Drop-In a month.
· Complete training as required and attend bi-monthly volunteer support meetings.
Skills:
· An ability to communicate and empathise with people from a variety of backgrounds and needs.
· Basic IT skills.
· Assist clients in accessing essential services such as legal, housing, financial and food.
· Can work well as part of a team.
· Enthusiasm to help refugee clients.
Desirable experience:
· Previous volunteering experience.
· Previous experience working in a people-facing role.
If you are interested in becoming a Drop-In volunteer please apply via Charity Jobs or contact us and a volunteer coordinator will contact you to discuss this further.
Please send CV to apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Overview
Healthwatch Greenwich aims to provide a befriending service to support individuals in need of companionship and emotional support.
Our befriending service will pair clients with volunteers who will talk to them for up to an hour each week. This could be face to face, by telephone, or online.
Befrienders will signpost clients to wider activities as appropriate.
What You'll Do:
· You will be working closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to:
· Offer face-to-face, phone, or virtual befriending support for up to one hour per week for three months.
· Write befriending updates after each meeting.
· Collect demographic information.
· Attend monthly support sessions.
What You'll Learn:
· How to improve your communication skills.
· How to use active listening.
· How to find activities for clients.
· How to write client updates and gather demographic data.
We offer a comprehensive induction and training to support you to carry out this role please note all volunteers undergo reference and DBS checks.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Our volunteers champion the rights of young people in care and on the edges of care, support them to access advocacy and make their voices heard. Training is provided. Whether you are currently studying, recently graduated, working part-time, retired or between jobs, volunteering with Coram Voice is a great opportunity to make a difference at the same time as gaining experience of working for a national children’s rights charity.
Our Helpline Supervisors will support you to develop valuable advocacy skills and knowledge of children’s rights and we offer specialist training in safeguarding, equality and diversity and advocacy. This training and other resources will help you to prepare for the role. You will be joining a team that provides quality support to young people in a friendly and supportive environment.
Our volunteer team is integral to our service and we could not provide the service we do without them, particularly in terms of the support we offer to homeless children.
We believe this role will be of particular interest to anyone looking to develop a career involving giving advice, advocacy, children’s and human rights, legal work, social work or youth work; or for professionals in those fields who want to use their experience to support the work of a children’s charity.
Please see our candidate information document for more information about our organisation and the training provided.
We ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us in relation to this position. We have chosen to recruit directly as this helps us to minimise our recruitment costs, ensuring that funds are not diverted from the children and young people we help.
We are a leading children’s rights organisation. We champion the rights of children and get young voices heard in decisions that matter to them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title – Children’s Advocacy Helpline Volunteer
Contract - Volunteer
Hours - Minimum 1 day a week for minimum of 1 year post training period, Helpline opening hours Monday to Friday 10am-6pm
Salary – Out of pocket expenses for travel (up to £10 per day) and Lunch (up to £5 per day)
Location – Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ
About Coram Voice
Coram Voice exists to enable and equip children and young people to hold the system to account, to challenge and support it to do its job properly and to uphold the rights of children and young people to actively participate in shaping their own lives.
About the role
Our volunteers champion the rights of young people in care and on the edges of care, support them to access advocacy and make their voices heard. Training is provided. Whether you are currently studying, recently graduated, working part-time, retired or between jobs, volunteering with Coram Voice is a great opportunity to make a difference at the same time as gaining experience of working for a national children’s rights charity.
Our Helpline Supervisors will support you to develop valuable advocacy skills and knowledge of children’s rights and we offer specialist training in safeguarding, equality and diversity and advocacy. This training and other resources will help you to prepare for the role. You will be joining a team that provides quality support to young people in a friendly and supportive environment.
Our volunteer team is integral to our service and we could not provide the service we do without them, particularly in terms of the support we offer to homeless children.
We believe this role will be of particular interest to anyone looking to develop a career involving giving advice, advocacy, children’s and human rights, legal work, social work or youth work; or for professionals in those fields who want to use their experience to support the work of a children’s charity.
Please see our candidate information document for more information about our organisation and the training provided.
We ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us in relation to this position. We have chosen to recruit directly as this helps us to minimise our recruitment costs, ensuring that funds are not diverted from the children and young people we help.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application, please note we do not accept cvs.
Closing Date: 2nd June 2024 23.59pm
Interview Date: Candidates will be interviewed as they apply
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.
If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience as part of their application.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Deafblind UK members have combined sight and hearing loss and many can feel lonely or socially isolated. We offer a free telephone befriending service where we match volunteers with one of our members to have a weekly 30 minute chat together.
We are looking for confident, empathetic and friendly people who can hold a good conversation. You could be chatting about similar interests or learning about each other’s lives. Whatever the conversation you’ll be having a positive impact.
One 30 minute call seems really simple but having someone to talk to and someone to listen, could really make a difference to our members. It could be that you’re the only person they speak to that day, or even that week.
Our members love to chat with people who have had some life experience and stories to tell. You will need good communication skills and be able to strike up a conversation. You will also need to be reliable, patient with a naturally warm and friendly nature.
We will ensure you are supported throughout your journey with us, offering training and support at all times.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.