• To help others in your own community
• To meet new people and make new friends
• To update your skills and increase your employability.

To become an adviser you need to commit to at least 8 hours a week for a mimium of 6 months - 1 year post training, have an impartial approach and be willing to learn.  Basic literancy/numeracy skills are a requirment. 

Admin volunteers must be 16+

Advisors must be 18+

What does befriending involve?

Each young person referred to the Service will have different needs and interests. The Support Workers will endeavour to match you with a young person on the basos of common interests and personality, your experience, abilites and skills.

As a volunteer you would be expected to commit yourself to befriending for at least six months from the date you are matched, with contact averaging 2 to 4 hours per week. Some matches last considerably longer and some will have variations in frequency.

In addition you would have monthly contact with a support worker and quarterly with other befrienders involved with the service ( these would be informal or social gatherings, or issue based training opportunities. You would also be required to complete a brief log or diary of each meeting or visit with the young person ( not a major report but a simple 10 minute questionnaire.

Where and when you meet is up to you and the young person ( and sometimes their parents) as long as there is consistant commitment and regularity. You must always ensure the young persons family know where you are going, what you will be doing and when they will be returning home.

What Can You Expect ?

In terms of the relationship itself, much depends on why you want to be involved. Befrienders volunteer for a variety of reasons and we will do our best to address your agenda and needs. However all volunteers can expect quality training which starts with the befrienders training programme and continues throughout their involvement.

The monthly meetings with your support worker and the diary/log sheets will be used to identify individual, further training needs . Beyond this, you would br e encouraged to request taining on anything remotely related to your voluntary work. We can offer no guarantees but would endeavour to accomodate any reasonable suggestion.

All expenses are reimbursed within reasonable limits; you will be advised of this in more detail. Should you wish to engage in other forms of voluntary work, as part of the Volunteer Centre the service is well placed to advise you about what opportunities exist. Many people find befriending is a useful stepping stone to personal and career development.

Finaly and probably most importantly, you can expect to enjoy the experience and have some fun.

For further information on how you can get involved please feel free to contact the befriending team at the address below.

84 Miller Street, Glasgow, G1 1DT

Email: befriending@volunteerglasgow.org

0141 226 3431