Perinatal Befriender - Forth Valley

Aberlour Scotland's Children's Charity
VO103558

What will I be doing?
Around 1:3 Mums/Mums to be and 1:10 Dads/Dads to be are affected by mental health issues in the Perinatal period – during pregnancy and up until their baby’s first birthday. As a volunteer Perinatal befriender you would be matched with a Mum/ Mum to be, who you will help by spending regular time together on a 1:1 basis, building a trusting relationship and reducing social isolation. Befriender’s come from a range of backgrounds and anyone aged 18 and over – there is no upper age limit to become a befriender!

Impact you can make
Feedback from families who have had befriending support tells us a Befriender can be life changing. A befriender can provide emotional support to help build positive relationships between parents and their baby and improve parents’ mental health. Accessing activities in the community, going for a walk, or talking over a cuppa are some of the ways in which a Befriender can make a real difference for parents and their babies. A Mum who used our service recently said “My befriender is like a wee rainbow coming in to make everything better”

Benefits to you as a volunteer
As a volunteer you will receive high quality training including Perinatal Mental Health and Child Protection. You will also gain practical experience of helping families affected by Perinatal Mental Health issues with ongoing support from our staff team throughout your befriending journey. You will meet a range of new people and be filled with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that you have helped make an unforgettable, positive difference to parents, babies and families.