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