Active Befriending
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Age UK Norwich.
Our existing volunteers tell us they find volunteering an enjoyable and rewarding activity where they can learn new skills, meet new people and give something back to the local community.
This Page outlines the key aspects of this volunteering opportunity, its duties and the skills and experience we look for.
Objectives
Our Active Befriending is a service designed to match you with a befriendee in your local area to do something outside of the home together. This could be meeting for a walk or a coffee, accompanying them to the shops or meeting up to attend a community group together. The scheme is designed to begin with telephone calls to build the relationship and then progressing to engaging together. This will be at the pace of the befriendee as their confidence is built. You will help and guide them to reach their goals whether that’s to meet new people, be more active or to learn something new.
Person Specification
The table below outlines the skills and background that would suit this opportunity.
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Essential Good communication and active listening skills. Comfortable to work with clients on a 1-1 basis. Reliable, able to work on own initiative and problem- solve. Computer literate and able to use e-mail and telephone. Good administrative record-keeping skills. Be empathetic to the problems faced by older people and their carers. Open to learning new skills to enhance relationships and the service provided. Experience of working to organisational guidelines, policies and procedures. Able to organise own travel to meet with clients locally.
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Desirable Previous experience of working/volunteering with older people or in health or wellbeing services e.g. counselling, coaching, social work. Experience of using mobile devices and tablets. Understanding of social demographics and barriers to social inclusion and their effects on older people. Experience of working with different groups of people and community engagement. Background or qualifications in health & social care, social work, health practitioner. A Dementia Friend or Dementia Champion. Knowledge of Health and Safety, Data Protection, Adult Safeguarding and Lone Working procedures. A desire to aid and guide a new friend needing a supporting hand to enhance their lives. |
Responsibilities
Each volunteer is matched with a person who has requested the active befriending service. The Befriending Team will arrange the match between you and the befriendee, and once a match has been made, you will be given the contact details of the person and can then:
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Call the person in their home for a period of time; meetings to be arranged at a pace determined by the befriendee.
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Report any concerns promptly to the Age UK Norwich Befriending Team. (Safeguarding training will be given prior to commencement)
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Offer general signposting to other Age UK Norwich services that may be able to give further support.
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Adhere to the relevant Age UK Norwich training, policies, and procedures, such as Data Protection and Adult Safeguarding. Including refresher, ongoing training where applicable.
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Maintain an informal diary of the meetings for discussion, training, and case study work.
Training
Volunteers will be given in-house training and an induction pack which details what they need to know about Active Befriending. The Age UK Norwich Volunteer Coordinator will be on hand via telephone or email to answer any queries.
Role Boundaries
Volunteers are not required to deliver any items of care to the client (food parcels, medication etc.) or transport the client anywhere. Volunteers are not expected to deal with complex, difficult problems or offer counselling. They are not required to deliver any personal care (such as washing, dressing, bathing or toileting) or manual handling (such as lifting or moving).
Volunteers are not required to undertake any fundraising activity.
Funding and Case Studies
As part of our funding requirements, we endeavour to highlight positive outcomes within our service and would request that you agree to participate in relevant, appropriate case studies in connection with your volunteering role.
Primary Contact
Befriending is part of our Community & Neighbourhood Support Department. You will have contact details for the Befriending Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator. We will continue to offer Befriending support throughout the lifetime of the match.
Time Commitment
Volunteers must be available for 1-2 hours per week for around 12 months.
Age Restrictions
Volunteers must be over the age of 18 for this service.
Apply for the role
If you think this is something you would be able to help with, please complete our online application form