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You can volunteer as a 1:1 befriender, in person or via the telephone, or as a driver or community befriending helper. You may have other skills that you can share with BeFriend, and we are happy to discuss this.

What does a 1:1 befriender do?

Visit people in their homes. If you have the time, you might visit more than one person.

Keep the person company and help them decide if they want to do something new.

Help people to go to any clubs, societies, drop-in sessions, outings and such.

What do community befriending helpers do?

Support befriendees at community events and help them to take part. Act as a bus escort if a minibus is being used, helping people on and off the bus.

What do drivers do?

Volunteer drivers help befriendees get to our community befriending events, using their own cars or driving vehicles hired by the Service. Drivers are welcome to stay and take part in the group if they would like to.

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Click here to view our application form. Select the three dots on the right-hand side task pane, and then see the option to download it. Once completed, return it to us via email to befriend@berwickshirehousing.org.uk.

Alternatively, it can be emailed directly to you, or a paper copy sent out in the post. Please get in touch with us if you would like us to send you it.

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Once volunteering has commenced, we will check in with you on a regular basis to make sure that it is going well and we will be available to answer any questions you may have and support you to fulfil your volunteering role.

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Click to view this policy.

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Before commencing your role as a volunteer, we require you to complete an induction session which is around 2 hours in length. This covers our policies and procedures, as well as important topics, such as confidentiality, boundaries and safeguarding.

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We want our volunteers to feel confident in their role. We are happy to provide opportunities to learn and develop. We can provide training in areas such as basic life support, and dementia awareness , amongst others. This can be in person training or online.

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BeFriend is a befriending service supported by the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland and Berwickshire Housing Association, to help people living in Berwickshire and Kelso who are over the age of 65, to maintain social connections and engage with their local communities.

More information is available on our website and Facebook, accessed via the following links:

https://www.berwickshirehousing.org.uk/our-community/befriending/

https://www.facebook.com/BHABeFriend/

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Contact details:

befriend@berwickshirehousing.org.uk

0800 652 8104

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Watch these two short video clips to show the impact befriending has.

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Davie Grey Part One - A Short Story on Loneliness by Befriending Networks

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Davie Grey Part Two - A Short Story on Loneliness by Befriending Networks

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We will:

Reimburse travel expenses.

Provide support and training opportunities to fulfil the role.

Provide you with the opportunity to make connections with people and give back to your community.

We will need you to:

Be reliable and do what you say you will.

Be professional and maintain confidentiality.

Send us monthly diary sheets so we can record and monitor the befriending that is happening.

Attend check in sessions with your assigned staff member, and at least one volunteer group get-together or awareness session, per year.