PRESS RELEASE: Friends of the Family welcomes four new befrienders

 In Media

Friends of the Family has welcomed four new volunteers to its team of befrienders. The two men and two women all completed the 5s to 13s Befriending training course in March and are now ready to use their skills and knowledge to offer support to a child living in the Winchester area.

Friends of the Family’s Befriending Service was established 10 years ago and each year trains in the region of 20 new volunteers to work with families facing very difficult and challenging circumstances. The two-day training course covers every aspect of the befriending role including communication and listening skills, safeguarding and confidentiality. The course also gives new volunteers the opportunity to meet a current befriender to find out what the role involves.

When asked why she wanted to volunteer, Jean Weaver said: “I had always wanted to volunteer with children but never had the time. After reading an article about befriending in a magazine and speaking to a trustee, who was very inspiring, I decided to apply. I found the training to be really useful and interesting and it was touching to hear from a current volunteer about her experiences.”

Commenting on what brought him to Friends of the Family, Ken Staunton said: “I was looking for something to do with my spare time and saw a poster about befriending on the village noticeboard. My early experiences of teaching and having two children of my own makes me feel that I have the skills needed to offer support to a child who is going through a difficult period in their life.”

Friends of the Family is currently recruiting for its next training course and would like to hear from anyone interested in becoming a volunteer befriender. For more information, please go to www.fotfwinchester.org, email volunteer@fotfwinchester.org or telephone 01962 864466.

ENDS