Telephone Befrienders and Walking Friends will be paired with a disabled person who is feeling isolated and wants someone to spend time with them, either over the phone or in the local community! Walking Friends will be matched with someone nearby, and observe social distancing measures.
Befriender Responsibilities
A Volunteer Remote Befriender will be having weekly telephone calls with service users to ensure that they have someone to reach out to, talk to and feel less isolated.
- Attending online induction training and receiving individual support and guidance from Choice in Hackney.
- Maintaining boundaries in line with Choice in Hackney’s guidance.
- Interacting safely in line with social distancing and other guidelines for volunteers.Interacting safely in line with social distancing and other guidelines for volunteers.
- Relating to the service user in a respectful way and adhering to the Choice in Hackney’s equal opportunities policy.
- Keeping in touch with the Volunteer Coordinator and informing of any issues/changes.
- Maintaining confidentiality within Choice in Hackney’s guidelines.
Befriender Volunteer Requirements
This is a list of the qualities, skills and knowledge we are looking for in a Volunteer Shopper. Please don’t be put off by this list of requirements – some of the skills and knowledge needed for the role can be developed during the induction period.
- Good communication skills: listening, talking, writing.
- Available to commit to the project for a minimum of 3 months.
- Reliability: able to keep commitments and appointments and where necessary, to communicate changes to plans with as much notice as possible
- Some knowledge of the barriers faced by disabled people.
- Empathy and an interest in understanding the needs of the disabled person.
- Ability to recognise own limitations and ask for help when needed.
- Ability to understand and follow relevant policies and procedures e.g. confidentiality, health and safety, boundaries.
- Open mindedness and willing to learn.
- A reasonable level of spoken English – enough to complete induction training and interact with service users.
Before you apply
We always match volunteers with service users on the basis of mutual preferences, availability and location. Volunteers have the right not to perform any tasks they are not comfortable with.
Please feel free to call the Volunteer Coordinator on 020 7613 8134 if you have any questions or need help with completing the form.
Disclosure and Barring check: For all one-to-one roles, we will carry out an enhanced DBS check. This is a legal requirement and helps us to protect the vulnerable adults to whom we have a duty of care. A criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering with Choice in Hackney so if you have any concerns about the disclosure, please feel free to discuss them in confidence with the Volunteer Coordinator
