Bracknell Forest Befriending Scheme

Volunteer befrienders wanted

Everyone needs other people, but not everyone has someone.

People can be isolated or feel alone for all sorts of reasons – health problems, people living alone having lost loved ones and with families living some distance away, be homebound or have other circumstances which make opportunities for developing friendship difficult. Sometimes people feel alone even when they are in regular contact with others.

Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action has launched a new befriending scheme aimed at the elderly and vulnerable. We have funding from Bracknell Forest Council, and are working closely with Age Concern Bracknell Forest, Be Heard, Good Neighbours schemes, Faith Groups, Carers UK and rethink to provide a service that is needed across the borough.

Befriending is simply a supported friendship between two people, a volunteer befriender and a member of the local community who feels isolated or alone, and is the simple act of giving your time to someone who needs support and friendship. Someone they know is there for them without expecting payment or a return of favour.

Contact the Befriending Co-ordinator, Gemma Frewin Email gemma.frewin@bfva.org telephone 01344 383523

This is also of benefit to a potential befriender, who might also be lonely and in need of company, but who is perhaps more active and able and can therefore help someone else less mobile than themselves.
We have all been befrienders at some time in our life on an informal level, eg keeping an eye on an elderly relative, popping in to see a lonely neighbour, etc.

This project aims to match volunteer befrienders with socially isolated people to provide both one to one contact and also encourage people, through increased confidence, to participate in community activities.

The scheme is run through Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action (BFVA) with a part time Befriending Coordinator, who will support volunteers through training, advice and guidance, and then match up befrienders with ‘clients’ which are referred through statutory agencies, churches, other groups or indeed through self referral.

We are currently recruiting volunteers with a view to giving 1-3 hours a week of their time.

If you would like to become a volunteer befriender, or would like to know more, please contact Gemma on 01344 304404 or email gemma.frewin@bfva.org

More information on befriending from BeHeard