Children's Befriender

Volunteering Matters
VO101307

Volunteering Matters, the national volunteering charity, are working closely with Barnardo's to set up a new service in Clackmannanshire called "Two's Company". We are now looking for Volunteer Befrienders to support children and young people aged 10-14.

As a Befriender, you will provide regular 1:1 support to a young person in Clackmannanshire. Acting as a reliable, positive and trustworthy role model, you will spend time with a young person to take part in fun community activities, and providing social and emotional support.

Two's Company supports young people who are socially isolated or who face a range of life challenges or barriers. Once trained and matched to a young person with similar interests, you will meet with your young person regularly (normally fortnightly) and take part in a fun activity or group. For example, you could meet for a hot chocolate, go for walks, a gym class, bowling or the cinema.

There may be particular activities that the young person would like to take part in but we also encourage volunteer befrienders to introduce ideas for new activities when appropriate.

Befrienders will give a young person a positive role model in their life by passing on their skills and experience, enabling them to try new experiences and simply providing them with a few hours of fun. By committing to just a couple of hours every fortnight, you could make a real difference where it is needed the most.

Experience required

Good people and interpersonal skills, ability to relate to, and build a relationship with, a young person
Good communication skills
Good organisation skills
Patient, resilient