NHS Grampian - Befriending clients in Hospital For further details please contact: Fiona Thomson: tel.: 01224 556645 Email: fiona.thomson3@nhs.scot

We are looking for volunteer visitors to join the National Visitors Network, our national befriending scheme for older people that provides companionship to older people experiencing loneliness or social isolation. Befrienders visit older people in their homes and provide regular chat/conversations (weekly/fortnightly or monthly as determined). Full training and good ongoing support is provided to all volunteers. A great, enjoyable opportunity to help and make a real difference. For more details please contact: David Tickner Email: david.tickner@csrf.org.uk / tel.: 020 8691 7411

A great chance to join a friendly team as a Befriender. Are you a Parent? Would you like to help other parents? Can you spare a couple of hours each week? Come and join us! At ParentSpace, we believe parenting is the hardest and most important job in the world and all parents want to do the best possible job we can. We also believe that, just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to raise a parent. That’s where our Parent Befrienders come in. As a Parent Befriender, you will be a crucial part of the village we all need. The role includes: • Meeting with your befriendee(s) at a regular time which suits you both, either at their home or a mutually agreed place, online or by phone. • Offering unconditional, non judgemental support through active listening • Maintaining confidential notes • Attending monthly supervision, usually online • Attending ongoing training We offer a 6 week training package, covering all aspects of the role, such as communication and active listening, confidentiality, parental wellbeing and mental health, looking after our wellbeing as befrienders, boundaries and safeguarding. After this, we ask that you are available for 1-2 hours per week for the minimum of 12 months. Skills/Experience Required To be a ParentSpace Befriender, you need to be: • A parent yourself • Friendly, good at listening and able to offer non judgemental support • Available 1-2 hours per week plus additional time for ongoing training and supervision • Transport is helpful but not essential • Access to Internet to attend online training, supervision and complete notes We welcome parents with lived experience of the many challenges parenting can bring, such as postnatal depression, anxiety, bereavement, parenting children with additional needs… These are examples of some of the difficulties your befriendees may be dealing with and it can help to form a rapport if you have a similar experience. This what one of our current Befrienders says about the role: 'I started my training with Parentspace last autumn and was matched with a parent by December. I honestly wasn't expecting to meet so many lovely people. The training was thoughtful and thorough. The trainers were so encouraging and naturally the other trainees were friendly! I was relieved that I didn't have to have all the answers or be a perfect parent myself; my own struggles have shown me the difference this kind of support can make and they also make it easier to form a connection. The support from my supervisor and the ParentSpace team means I never feel isolated and has helped me build my confidence. Personally, I look forward to the befriending sessions and have had a lot of fun since I joined up.'

Food Train Connects provides a one to one befriending service for older people by visiting them in their own home for a friendly chat and some company on a weekly basis. Our Food Train Connects Befriending service is a fantastic way to make an impact on the lives of older people in your community. Our aim is to support older people to age well and live well. Becoming a Food Train Connects Shopping Friend is rewarding and it makes a huge difference to people’s lives. It’s amazing the impact that a regular befriending visit can have on someone who is isolated or lonely. If you want to make sure that an older person is able to live well in their own home this is a great opportunity to do so. The Role: • Provide an effective befriending service for your befriendee . • Spend time with your befriendee, listen, chat and discuss various topics. o Keep within the boundaries of the role o To inform Food Train Connects Staff of any accidents, incidents or complaints o To maintain confidentiality o To represent Food Train in a professional manner to our members and the wider community