PRESS RELEASE: New volunteers ready to befriend local children
Friends of the Family has welcomed five new volunteers to its 5s to 13s Befriending team after they all successfully completed the charity’s two-day training course this month.
Following a careful matching process, the new recruits will soon be spending two hours a week engaging in fun activities with a local child who is in need of support and friendship.
Led by 5s to 13s Befriending Manager, Sam Hunt, the training course covered a range of topics including the befriending role, key attributes of a befriender, issues facing children today, confidentiality and safeguarding. The new volunteers had the opportunity to meet a current befriender who gave a valuable insight into the role and undertook a workshop on listening skills and body language with guest speaker Kevin Knight.
Commenting on the course and her reasons for applying, new volunteer Sarah said: I wanted to volunteer as a befriender with Friends of the Family because they put children and families at the heart of what they do. I feel that all children deserve a happy childhood and the work of Friends of the Family really makes a practical difference. I found the course was very reassuring and informative, and it’s great to know that the charity is there all the time if we feel we need to chat or ask for advice.”
New volunteer Peter, who hopes to make a positive difference to a child’s life, said: “The training has been excellent. I have found the information and handouts very interesting and useful. I would certainly recommend it to others considering a volunteering role.”
Thanking the volunteers for joining Friends of the Family, Sam Hunt said: “We are thrilled to have such a high calibre of new volunteers. Your experience, knowledge and enthusiasm will make a huge difference to local children’s lives. We really appreciate your commitment to this unique role and we look forward to working with you all.”
For more information about volunteering with Friends of the Family go to www.fotfwinchester.org, email volunteer@fotfwinchester.org or call 01962 864466.
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