Description

Our volunteers offer informal companionship to people aged 65 and over in Berwickshire and Kelso.
Use your life experience and the skills you’ve picked up along the way to help older people in our community. You will get so much in return – new friendships, laughter and fun, greater self -confidence, renewed purpose, and energy. Volunteering can be a great addition to your CV.

There are lots of different ways you can get involved with BeFriend, you could:
• Visit a befriendee
• Become a telephone befriender
• Help with our group activities
• Provide transport to our group activities

Here’s what our volunteers say:
“Listening is a wonderful thing to be able to do for someone who needs to talk, it can change a person’s life.”

“It doesn’t feel like volunteering now! I just visit a friend every week to catch up.”

Benefits to volunteers:
The chance to give something back to your community. The chance to get to know your community. Better confidence.

Become part of our friendly team and help reduce loneliness and isolation.

Organisation aims and objectives

Berwickshire Housing Association owns, manages and builds homes to rent to suit a range of lifestyles, personal needs and family sizes that people can afford. We do so in communities throughout Berwickshire. We are a not for profit charity so all our income goes towards providing services for the community, the upkeep of our customers’ homes and building new homes. Our vision BHA’s vision “To Realise the Power of Home” places our focus very much on the importance of home which goes beyond bricks and mortar. We believe everyone has the right to a high quality, safe and affordable home and a good quality of life. BHA has a role to play in enabling both of these outcomes for our customers. Our values Our values underpin everything that we do. They inform our decisions, how we show up and they way we treat each other. They shape our organisation and how our customers and communities experience us. Brilliant Basics Doing what we say we’ll do, communicating well, taking a person-centred approach in our dealings with both customers and colleagues, taking ownership and accountability. Embrace Change Actively supporting and embedding change, being flexible and adaptable, a commitment to continuous improvement and actively seeking best practice. Learn & Grow A willingness to participate and learn, support the learning and wellbeing of others, providing learning and development opportunities. Inspire Together Collaborate internally and externally, being approachable, helpful and kind, being non-judgemental, displaying emotional intelligence.

Frequency and commitment details

How much time does it take? As much time as you have to spare! Most volunteers do it for about 1 hour a week.

Restrictions

Volunteers should be free to work with older adults who might be vulnerable.
Experience required: Volunteers should be: Friendly, patient and caring. Be able to talk to people. Be able to listen to people. Be able to turn up on time. Understand confidentiality. It would be useful if you have a car, but you do not have to.
Travel details: Where does it happen? Usually in the older people’s own homes.
Minimum age: 18

Support

Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: Travel expenses are available along with expenses are available for refreshments taken while volunteering.
Taster available: Yes
Training details: 2 half day induction sessions. Then dementia awareness and safeguarding training at a later date. Ongoing opportunities to attend other sessions. Support:
Support: Named Contact For Volunteer