Befriending

What is Befriending?

Befriending is one to one, or group support, for someone who has or is recovering from a mental illness. The support is provided by trained, caring volunteers from within the Doncaster community. Please see the Befriending Scheme leaflet below.

Information Leaflet.pdf

What is the Aim of Befriending?

The volunteers are instilled with the idea that after forming a friendship their main aim is to help their client re-engage with the community. This may be through a social activity, like swimming, the cinema or by taking part in one of the Day Services group activities - the art and computer group, being very popular.

How often does a client see their Befriender and for how long?

"I never used to be able to go out alone, but with the help and support of my Befriender, I'm now able to catch the bus by myself and do my own shopping."

We ask for a minimum of two hours a week from the volunteers, though most of them give up several hours a week - most clients see their Befriender every week.There is no limit to Befriending, though clients and Befrienders often become close friends and feel they want to withdraw from the scheme.

What is Group Befriending?

We have found that some of our clients either live in out lying areas of Doncaster, and may have to wait a very long time to find a Befriender in their area or they feel they would benefit from group peer support. Group Befriending has the same aims as one to one work but there are two Befrienders taking out four clients.

How long does it take before a Befriender is allocated?

We put a great deal of time and effort into finding the right volunteer for the client and this can often take several months. Getting a Befriender is not a quick process but once Befrienders are in place we have found that clients benefit greatly.

"....I meet my Befriender once a week and we go for a coffee, or on an outing to the cinema or a garden centre. These trips really are a life line, giving me something to look forward to every week."

Why use Volunteers?

Often people with mental health problems detach themselves from their family & friends, and though statutory help can prove invaluable, one of the main reasons befriending works so well is that the volunteer is not paid to be there. They actually want to be with their client, with the hope of becoming a good friend.

Interested in becoming a Volunteer?

Do you have a couple of hours spare and like meeting new people? Vounteering as a Befriender is useful for work based experience or if you are looking for employment in this field. See our information pack for more details.

Information Pack Jan 11.pdf