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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

Family Befrienders provide whole family support to families who are often facing multiple hardships. Volunteers will meet with their family weekly or fortnightly for a period of 6-12 months. Our volunteers befriend a family, to improve their self-confidence, emotional health, and wellbeing, reducing their social isolation and promote their independence. With encouragement and support, volunteers will aim to help families discover their strengths, build confidence, and resolve difficulties.

Activities might include
- supporting a parent to take their children on days out
- Helping to strengthen family relationships
- Providing a listening ear
- Helping family members to build confidence in themselves


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 that sounds like you, please get in touch!
 

Duties

Volunteer Responsibilities: 
- To visit a family with whom you have been matched, building a relationship of friendship and trust
- Complete a feedback form after each visit and to participate in regular supervision with your Coordinator
- To uphold 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 family who have requested volunteer support and have expressed the desire to make positive changes in their lives. 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 and and virtual workshops 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 annual, please get in touch to find out when the next induction session is taking place.

Time commitment

Hours are flexible depending on the family’s needs, but an average of 2-3 hours per week or fortnight for six months to one year.

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.