Befriender: 5s to 13s Befriending Service

Could you be a friend to a local child? 

Our befriending service helps children aged 5 to 13 to flourish through spending regular time with an adult volunteer. 

Our main aim is to help families to help themselves by giving them friendly support to make a difference to young children's lives. Our volunteers use their own life experiences and skills to encourage families to discover their own strengths, build their confidence and encourage them to find their own solutions to difficulties. 

Training is provided for volunteers to befriend a child on a 1:1 basis, both indoors and outside of the family home for two hours a week. 

Due to the child's age, the two hour volunteering period is likely to be after school or at the weekend and during the school holidays.

We hope that volunteers will commit to the role for a year so that positive relationships built on trust and confidentiality can be developed.

In return volunteers will be given training, receive regular, professional, supervision and be provided with ongoing training opportunities. Own transport is desirable with travel expenses reimbursed.

Next training course: May 2025

If this role doesn't sound quite right for you, but you are interested in volunteering with Friends of the Family, please see our other role available at: https://volunteerfirst.co.uk/opportunities/play-volunteer-with-children-under-5-years-old-2056/

Skills

A volunteer befriender will:

• be aged 23 or over.
• be kind, caring and non-judgmental.
• enjoy being with children.
• be a positive role model.
• have patience to support a child through a difficult period in their life.
• maintain confidentiality.
• be able to commit to spending two hours a week with a child for a minimum period of one year.
• preferably be able to drive and have access to a car that could be used in their voluntary role.

A volunteer befriender will have experience of:

• supporting / working / volunteering with children aged 5 to 13 years.
• or have children or grandchildren of their own.