Volunteers receive a "feel good factor" and a sense of satisfaction helping others, opportunity to give something back to the community, to gain experience which may be useful if later seeking a career in caring. The Friend gains contact with the outside community, befriender visits and spends quality time with user providing stimulation and conversation. The befriender may take the user out, where this might not otherwise be possible.

The main duties of the volunteer Befriender are: • To build up a relationship • To establish and maintain appropriate boundaries to the befriending relationship • To be aware of and work within the organisational framework • To spend time/share activities with their Friend • To offer an acceptance and understanding presence • To be consistent • To be accountable • To respect confidentiality within the project’s framework • To clarify issues and report back to Project Co-ordinator • To co-operate with administrative tasks • To work within a non-discriminatory framework