Volunteer Befriender
Ruils
The key role of the Volunteer Befriender is to help to alleviate the sense of isolation and loneliness experienced by many people with a disability, sensory impairment or long-term health condition living in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. We achieve this by providing weekly contact either in-person or by phone calls, or increasingly via a hybrid model of the two. For face-2-face contact a DBS check will be carried out.
Do you want to make a difference in your local community and work with adults with mental health conditons, long-term health conditions and disabilities? Ruils is a local charity that supports children and adults with disabilities and the elderly to live independently, be part of their community and to live life to the full. We provide information, advice, practical care and support, befriending and accessible activities to our clients and their families. Statistics show that a high percentage of the elderly population within Britain experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. However, loneliness and isolation are not something that only the elderly population experience, which is why our service is tailored to anyone over the age of 18 who may need an individual to visit them once or twice a week and be the method of communication that might be missing from their lives. The Volunteer Befriending Service aims to match clients with a volunteer who will visit them once or twice a week at the client’s home or at a pre-arranged location. The role of a befriender varies depending on our client’s needs, but it can range from a weekly phone call or helping someone with small day-to-day tasks to taking a client out shopping. If this role sounds of interest, please do not hesitate to get in touch! PLEASE CHECK YOUR JUNK/SPAM EMAILS FOR OUR REPLY!
Befriending, Buddying & Mentoring,Community Work
People Skills
- Good communication skills and the ability to engage with and motivate others, facilitating discussion - An open-minded, tolerant and patient approach - An ability to listen and respond appropriately without imposing an opinion (be impartial and non-judgmental) - Respect, reliability, honesty and punctuality - A willingness to research local opportunities so that clients can make their own informed decisions about the activities in which they wish to participate - Dedication and commitment to the role
As a user-led, grass roots organisation, all volunteers play a crucial role in helping Ruils to deliver its objectives. Ruils recognizes that volunteers offer valuable skills and experience which can contribute to the smooth functioning of the organisation. In return, volunteering at Ruils can offer an opportunity to meet new people, to develop skills or learn new ones and to give something back to your community.
As a befriender we require volunteers to commit to as little as an hour per week and the timimgs are flexible. Hours will be agreed upon between the client and volunteer.
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Multiple locations across the Borough of Richmond Upon Thames.
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