Over 60s Befriending Scheme leaflet

Braunstone Over 60s Befriending Scheme 0116 223 2256 45 Wellinger Way, Braunstone, LE3 1RG

What is the Braunstone Over 60s Befriending Scheme?

The Braunstone Over 60s Befriending Scheme has been set up as part of b-connected, a well established, community based organisation in Braunstone.

When a consultation exercise was carried out in the area, it was found that residents over 60 had identified two key problems with which they would like additional support.

Firstly, they did not find it easy to access advice and guidance, with regard to things like benefits, housing, legal disputes. The Citizen’s Advice Bureau now offers a weekly surgery at b-connected to help with these issues.

Secondly, they said that they felt isolated and found it difficult to get out of their homes to make new friends.

The Braunstone Befriending Scheme is intended to help with this, by linking up residents with volunteer Befrienders who will be able to offer companionship and begin to reduce the sense of loneliness and isolation.

Who can become a Braunstone Befriender?

Anyone who can spend one or two hours each week getting to know an older person to help them feel less isolated.

Although the service is for older people this does not mean that all the volunteers should be of a similar age. The Befriending Scheme Co-ordinator will carefully match volunteers with Befriendees, looking at interests, background and personality; it may be that in some of the best matches a volunteer is much younger than the person they befriend.

Befrienders will be going into another person’s home, so we need volunteers who are extremely trustworthy and reliable, so we will take up references and carry out a CRB check.

If you would like to volunteer and think either of these processes may cause a problem, please contact the Scheme Co-ordinator..

W h at sort of t h i n g s w i l l B e f ri e n d e rs d o?

As mentioned above, Befrienders will usually be visiting people in their own homes, listening to them and giving them the individual attention and support that they need.

The whole focus of Befriending is social and Befrienders are not expected to carry out any domestic tasks, get involved with medical care or do anything other than chatting and ‘being a friend’.

Once Befriending is established and meetings are taking place regularly, it may be that outings are arranged, e.g. to a local library or park; something that both Befriender and Befriendee will enjoy.

Is there training for Befriending?

Yes, Befrienders will be trained before they begin volunteering.

The Befriending Co-ordinator will invite all new volunteers to a one-day training session. This will cover the essentials of Befriending and make sure that people understand how their volunteering will work. At this point some people might decide that Befriending is not for them, which is perfectly acceptable.

After this other training sessions will be set up to cover specific aspects of Befriending. Volunteers will be able to suggest topics in which they would like to receive training.

We want our training sessions to be enjoyable and it is important that all volunteers understand that the training is essential, because of the responsible nature of the role of Befriender.

What happens after training?

After training, Befrienders will have regular support sessions with the Scheme Co-ordinator. These will provide an opportunity to review how the Befriending is going, discuss any difficulties and check out future plans, e.g. for trips out.

Volunteers can use these sessions to suggest additional training that they feel would be useful.

We will also aim to arrange for Befrienders to meet up and share experiences, so that they become part of a team and can support each other.

Will expenses be paid?

What about insurance?

Any travel expenses (e.g. bus fares) to and from the volunteering placement will be paid by the Scheme. It is not intended that any volunteer should be out-of-pocket as a result of Befriending.

All volunteer Befriending activities will be fully covered by the insurance held by b-connected.