Thinking of Becoming a Befriender?
Volunteers are central to what we do and recruitment is an on-going priority. Befrienders are volunteers who are recruited, trained and supported by the Project Manager. If you have a couple of hours to spare each week and have these qualities then we would love to hear from you:
- Have time available for regular meetings
- Are reliable
- Have the ability to build rapport with a young person
- Are sensitive and non-judgemental to the needs of young people and can adopt a flexible approach
- Can respect the need for confidentiality
- Have a minimum of 1 year to offer the project and a young person once training is complete
Training takes place over a 2 week period and includes:-
- The role of the befriender
- Befriending situations
- What is expected of a befriender
- The matching process
- Boundaries
- Confidentiality
- Listening skills
- Child protection
The befriender meets once a week for 2 hours with the young person doing activities in the Centre such as playing games, Wii fit, pool, arts and crafts, pamper sessions. Plus a monthly trip out to places of interest, bowling, cinema, ice skating, eating out and much, much more. All volunteers travelling expenses are paid.
During volunteers week in June each year we hold a celebration evening to award our volunteers with their certificate followed by a buffet and dancing.
The Centre is Awarded with the Investing In Volunteers Award and we are in the process of the Quality In Befriending Award.
If you would like to become a befriender or would like to find out more please call the Project Manager Alana Taylor on 0131 455 7759 or email YouthBefriending@broomhousecentre.org.uk.