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Befriender 1-1 children & young people (5-25 years)

BeFriends
VO86578

Would you like to work with children and young people? BeFriends is recruiting adult volunteers who have a few hours a week to spare for our one-to-one befriending.

A registered charity established in 1981, BeFriends works with 5 to 25-year-olds who live in Dundee and are experiencing difficulties in their lives and are often socially isolated, vulnerable or disadvantaged. Our one-to-one BeFrienders support a young person with whom they have been matched. During regular meetings, the befriender offers the opportunity for their young person to chat and have fun, while building confidence and self-esteem as they take part in community activities together.

If you have time to offer to support a child or young person and you would like a new challenge, then why not become a Volunteer Befriender with BeFriends? You do not need to have experience of working with 5-to-25-year-olds, but it is important to have empathy, the ability to engage and a non-judgemental approach to understanding the issues that affect young lives. BeFriends provides volunteers with full training, induction, and on-going support. We also have group work opportunities

Due to the regulated work BeFriends carries out with children and young people, our volunteers are required to undergo a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check with Disclosure Scotland.

Experience required

Empathy, sense of humour, ability to have fun, patience.

Travel details

Befriending takes place throughout Dundee.

Travel expenses

Public transport & car mileage costs paid from the start of meetings and any other out of pocket expenses incurred during activities, up to a set limit. Reimbursements paid monthly on volunteers’ submission of a monthly report and a claim form accompanied by receipts.

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Training details

Induction training covers: roles and responsibilities, boundaries, risk assessment, case studies, scenarios, confidentiality, communications, child protection. On-going training: including challenging behaviour, child protection, drugs awareness. Support: Regular supervision sessions and named contact for volunteers.