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Family Friends
Family Friends is a charity that supports families and young people living in Central West London through volunteer befriending services. 
Read more about this organisation
Description

Our Big Buddies are inspirational role models who provide support to young people aged 10-18 for a few hours weekly or fortnightly over a period of 6-12 months. Family Friends’ services are initiated only with the consent of the young person and their family, and young people have an equal voice in deciding how they wish to spend their time. The most important criteria for receiving Family Friends’ support is that the young person is keen to make positive changes and engage with a Befriender.

Support might look like:

- Trying fun activities together

- Helping a young person to grow in confidence and resilience

- Talking to a young person about future aspirations

- Group work

- Sharing your skills with a young person

 

What type of volunteers are we looking for?

Family Friends volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are selected for their qualities of warmth and understanding.

- Are you someone who can offer a listening ear?
- Are you able to withhold judgement?
- Do you like trying new things?
- Can you spare a few hours weekly or fortnightly?
- Are you willing to travel in Central West London?

If this sounds like you, please get in touch! 

Duties

Volunteers will befriend a young person, to improve their self-confidence, emotional health and wellbeing.

Responsibilities will include:

- Visiting a young person with whom volunteers have been matched, building a relationship of friendship and trust

- Completing a feedback form after each visit and to participate in regular supervision with your Coordinator

- Upholding organisation name core principles, vision, culture and values and abide by Family Friends policies and procedures.

Who will the volunteers be working with?
Volunteers will be supported by a Volunteer Coordinator throughout their volunteer journey befriending a young person. Each of our families needs are unique but many face issues such as poverty, inadequate housing, poor health, social isolation, depression or challenges around refugee/asylum seeker/new immigrant status. These families are based in three Central West London boroughs: Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham and Brent.
Training
Family Friends offer two full days of interactive face-to-face training along with some e-learning in order to prepare you for the role. We also provide regular contact, periodic supervision, monthly volunteer support group meetings and on-going training and support.

We run training approximately 5 times annually, please get in touch to find out when the next induction session is taking place.

Time commitment

Hours are flexible depending on the young persons needs and volunteers availability, but an average of 2-3 hours per week or fortnight for 6 - 12 months.

Categories

UCL Departments

This organisation is one of our community partner organisations.

Like all volunteer recruiters we work with, they have signed up to our service standards, agreeing to abide by our policy on partnership working to keep you safe and supported whilst you volunteer.

You’ll never be out of pocket for volunteering through us – with in-London travel expenses to and from your volunteering guaranteed.

In addition, the team here at Students’ Union UCL Volunteering Service is here to support you throughout your volunteering journey – you can get in touch with us at any time.