Become a Befriending Volunteer
Could you help to support individuals to reconnect with their community and do the things they enjoy doing, to live the life they choose and to empower them to take control of their own lives?
The role entails minimum 2 hours a week, more are available to suit your availability. All out of pocket expenses are paid
- Skills: Care, Communication, Compassion, Digital communication
- People skills: Problem-solving, Teamwork
- Team: Befriending Life Links, Age Cymru Dyfed
- Hours: Ideally for a few hours, once a week
- Minimum age: 18
- Ability and willingness to write up a short report
- Able to drive and have use of a vehicle
- A clear sense of personal boundaries and confidentiality
The role in a nutshell:
In this volunteer role, you will be based helping older people for a chat in person one to one or at a social event to help empower them to become more confident and less isolated.
What will you be doing?
The role of Befriending Life Links volunteers is incredibly varied and always person-centred. On one day you may be supporting an older person to feel less lonely, encouraging them to meet other people by finding out about social activities, making connections, and checking with them that all's gone well.
The next you may be organising and help the over fifties benefit from their local social events. We support people to build their confidence to socialise with other people at Pubs, Restaurants and Cafe's. Just normal places where people would normally meet up with friends. Someone else might benefit from your support in helping them to find a trusted gardener or handyperson so they can maintain their home.
Or, you might highlight the support that Age Cymru Dyfed can offer in their West Wales county - which may be all they need. No day is the same in this vital role!
How would you be supported in this role?
As part of the Befriending Life Links team, you will receive full training and undertake an induction to ensure you feel confident in your new role as a BLL Volunteer. We will provide access to regular check-in and support sessions with the team as well as a peer support network with other volunteers. Age Cymru Dyfed will also reimburse you for agreed expenses you incur related to the role.
Why do we need volunteers in this role?
Volunteers enable the Befriending Life Links service to reach a greater number of older people in need of support and to provide additional time and focus using their range of experience and skills.
Additional information:
Volunteering in this role must take place between Monday and Friday, 9am – 5pm.
What skills, interests or experience might be helpful in this role?
Older people are at the heart of everything we do at Age Cymru Dyfed. While full training and ongoing support are provided to enable you to excel in this role, having a pre-existing understanding of some of the challenges people in later life may face, along with an awareness of the services and support that may be available to them will be particularly useful. In addition, effective verbal and written communication and IT literacy are important in this role.