Chorley - Community Support Befriending

Community Support – Children and Families (Befriending)

Overview

Why do we need Community Support, Children & Family Befrienders?

We understand that a range of issues affecting one person will equally be felt by the family of the person being supported. Engaging and supporting a young person, their parent/guardian, or the whole family, will be the pivotal requirements of this volunteering opportunity.

We are looking for volunteers who will know that this is what is required of this opportunity and be willing to help and provide that support.For example, you may be supporting a young person to join a club or activity in order to focus on something positive, or assisiting a single parent to access local parenting groups to meet new people and regain their independence.

How you can help

Taking considerable care to ensure a good match, we will introduce you to someone from your local area that we are supporting. Your role will be to help them to tackle their social isolation by using your interpersonal skills and establishing a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship. You will use your local knowledge of community services and groups to benefit them. With your help, having regular outings will increase their confidence, resilience and independence, to achieve specified and agreed goals and objectives.

If you have the time and commitment to be able to help support others on a regular basis, gaining valuable experience of care skills, and a genuine shared interest in helping, please apply.

Tasks

• To regularly visit the parent/family/child/guardian either in their own home or a

  community setting.

• To regularly support the individual(s) to achieve agreed, positive goals.
• To provide regular feedback on the progress of those being supported.
• To log volunteering hours monthly and submit expenses where applicable via an on-line computer system.
• To complete minimum level training e.g. Safeguarding and commit to further training relevant to the role.

Criteria

• Must be over 18 years of age
• Our Community Support Befrienders do not work with people who are family or close friends.
• Commitment of 1-2 hours minimum per week / flexible
• Minimum commitment of 6 months is required
• Understanding of vulnerability

• Understanding and awareness of key issues that can affect lives i.e. mental health issues, misuse of substances -alcohol, drug abuse, etc.

   

  Personal Qualities

   

• Ability to use basic ICT systems
• Be able to deal with difficult situations in a professional manner
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to use own initiative
• Respect for equality and diversity

Training

Training will be provided where necessary and may be in the form of peer support, distance learning or trainer led.  Volunteers must have completed the required training before any activity can be undertaken and may be asked to regularly refresh training where required.

Further information – if you would like further information prior to applying for this activity please contact 01772 531323 quoting Community Support Befriending or email lvp@lancashire.gov.uk