Volunteer as a befriender
Do you have a spare two hours a week?
Why not use this time to share your skills and life experiences to support a child when they need it most. By giving regular, undivided attention, a volunteer befriender can help build a child’s self-esteem and improve family relationships.
Next training course on 17th and 19th October 2024
What does a befriender do?
Develops a trusting friendship with a child aged between 5 and 13 years, providing sustained emotional and practical support in tackling challenges they and their family are facing. Our befrienders spend two hours a week with a focus child engaged in positive activities in and outside of the child’s home.
They work to form positive relationships with all family members. They draw on their own experiences to build up the confidence of the focus child and family and encourage them to find their own solutions to the difficulties they are experiencing.
What do we offer?
The chance to transform the life of a local child and their family. You will receive an initial two-day training course, safeguarding training, further ongoing training opportunities, continuing support and regular supervision, invitations to volunteer get-togethers, and paid travel expenses.
Find out what our volunteers say.
What do we expect in return?
- A commitment to spend two hours a week with a focus child for a period of at least one year
- Attendance at a two-day training course prior to starting the role
- Ability to visit a child who lives in Winchester or the surrounding villages
Hear from some of our volunteers about Befriending with Friends of the Family
How to apply
Complete the volunteer enquiry form below, email volunteer@fotfwinchester.org or call us on 01962 864466 for an application pack.
Volunteers must be aged 23 or over. Applicants to the role are subject to an interview, two references and a clear enhanced DBS check.
Alice’s story…
Alice aged 8 had recently moved to a new school during the middle of the year and had been struggling to develop and maintain friendships with her peers. She had low self esteem and was feeling very isolated. Through role play activities her befriender Fiona helped her to learn some strategies that Alice could use to initiate games with her peers. Alice used these at school and is having more positive interactions with her new friends.
Jacob’s story…
Mum, Helen was worried about her son Jacob’s low self-esteem and his lack of self-worth. Jacob had been comfort eating and Helen wanted to help him find a positive outlet for his feelings. His befriender Aaron started supporting Jacob and they soon worked out that Jake really enjoyed playing football and that he was good at it. Aaron and Jacob developed a routine of meeting up after school, having a healthy snack and then playing football together each week. Jacob soon became more confident, and his mum has recently enrolled him to play for a local team.
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