Befriender/Events Volunteer

The No 1 Be-friending Agency
VO97873

Join us in our mission to reduce loneliness and isolation!

The No. 1 Befriending Agency is a vibrant social enterprise covering the whole of Glasgow. We are looking for compassionate, friendly and reliable individuals to join our team of volunteer befrienders to make a real difference.

Our volunteers support over-65s to reduce loneliness and isolation, build confidence and improve lives. As a befriender, you will be matched with an older person and contribute to the invaluable social contact, such as:

Friendly chats over tea

Listening and providing much-needed companionship

Empowering them to attend social events and reconnect with their community

Because forging a strong relationship with our service users takes time, we ask our volunteer Befrienders to commit to 24 weeks’ worth of visits, with each visit lasting just an hour. However we are also always looking for Events Volunteers and also offer Telephone Befriending if you cannot commit to weekly in-person visits.

We believe that Befriending can and should be beneficial for the volunteer as well as for the Befriendee. You will gain skills and experience that will enhance your personal development, all whilst improving lives, reducing loneliness and connecting communities.

At No. 1 we are committed to supporting our volunteers to empower and improve outcomes of our service users. To support you in volunteering with us you will receive:

Comprehensive training and induction

Regular support and supervision

Fun volunteer social activities

Additional volunteering opportunities

Plus befriending looks great on your CV! Soft skills such as compassion, active listening and reflection are highly sought after skills in today's job market. Many of our volunteers go on to roles in fields such as health and social care, and we are always happy to provide references for successful volunteers.

To see the impact of befriending on both our service users and volunteers, check out this 90-second video: https://vimeo.com/648991073

So to find out more, hit the apply button below. Or for more information, you can email us on info@befriend.org.uk

Once you have applied for this role we will send you an email with a short application form. Alternatively, download the application form attached and send it to info@befriend.org.uk

If you're interested, please click the ‘apply’ button below (available when logged in and registered). You will then be contacted by the coordinator by email or phone call. If you have not heard back after 5 working days, the first step is to contact the organisation with the contact details provided. You could also check your junk/spam folder on your emails just in case the response is there. If that doesn’t work out then please feel free to contact Volunteer Glasgow on info@volunteerglasgow.org.

Experience required

The successful Befriender:
• Is trustworthy and reliable
• Is responsible and patient
• Communicates easily with different people
• Is resourceful and well organised
• Truly cares about others

The role is subject to a PVG check, which we will arrange through the agency.

Travel details

You may be able to walk to the service user's house. Otherwise, you can take public transport ( the volunteer coordinator can help you plan your route if needed).