Turn2us London Befriender

Background / This role will support the work of our Grants Services Team who distribute direct grants for a series of trusts and funds managed directly by the charity.
Direct grant-giving and providing individual support is at the heart of the charity’s work and this role will support individuals who are in receipt of one of those direct grants including our own Turn2us Elizabeth Finn Fund. This Fund has existed for over a century and is available to people living in financial difficulty who have a professional background and meet our grant giving criteria.
Where / In the home of an individual that we are, or have been, supporting with a one-off grant or regular payment from the above funds.
When / At a mutually agreed time between the Befriender and the Befriendee. Support will be tailored to the needs of the individual and will comprise of either home visits twice a month or a combination of a home visit and then a telephone conversation if that is mutually agreed. For some recipients of this service they have particularly requested face to face service.
Time Commitment / Contacting an individual at a pre-arranged time as outlined above. In order to build a mutually reciprocal relationship between both parties, we ask for Befrienders to commit to at least 6 months although we expect to be potentially supporting an individual for at least 12 months depending on their level of need.
Tasks involved / Turn2us Befrienders visit people across a range of ages in their own homes to provide social support. You will be involved in providing companionship, support and a listening ear to individuals to help reduce the risk of them becoming isolated or lonely.
People accessing our face-to-face befriending service have been identified as being in need of additional support alongside our financial assistance.
Skills required / ● The people most suited to befriending are those who are interested in other people and who are good listeners
● Confident with good communication skills, particularly with regard to conversational skills
● Patience and the ability to be empathetic and non-judgemental
● Reliability to help build a supportive relationship with the individual that you are visiting
● Having a range of interests and experience would be useful to effect a successful match
● For some Befriendees, an understanding or experience of dealing with mental health issues will also be useful
● Knowledge of your local area in respect of charities and other services would be helpful so that you could potentially signpost an individual to other support mechanisms (without making any recommendations)
● Computer and Word skills to complete a short visit feedback form to help capture the impact of this volunteer role
Training and Support / ● All new volunteers are asked to attend an initial four hour training workshop which covers the key elements of our volunteering programme (including our Volunteer Policy, how to claim expenses etc) an induction into the background and work of the charity; the framework of a befriending relationship and the boundaries of the role together with an overview of personal safety guidelines
● Volunteers are further supported by our dedicated Volunteer Support Manager
● Expenses are provided in line with our policy and reimbursements are made in line with current HMRC Mileage rates for car travel and against receipts for other expenditure items eg food/refreshments
● Further support and updates on the work of our charity are provided through regular communications in a variety of formats
What’s in it for you / ● It will give you the opportunity of being part of a national charity which has achieved the national Investing in Volunteers Quality Mark for our volunteering programme
● After a qualifying period of satisfactory volunteering, a reference is available in line with our Volunteer Policy
● This role would suit someone who is considering a career in social work or on an associated study course but who cannot commit to a regular day or time. It would also be ideal for someone who wants to help others who find themselves in financial hardship, often due to a change in personal circumstances or ill health
Additional information / ● A DBS check may be required for this role
● This role does not involve taking the individual out for any social activities or engaging in any other tasks such as taking them to medical appointments/shopping etc; any advocacy or advice giving or handling any financial matters or transactions. It will take place entirely in the home of the person that you are befriending.
● Visits can be arranged by mutual agreement between yourself and the Befriendee which provides flexibility
● We ask that you complete the diversity monitoring form attached to the application form because this helps us develop and grow our volunteer programme to ensure we are involving as wide a range of people as possible
● In respect of data protection we adhere to current legislation and will provide you with guidance during training about storing confidential information. Your details will be stored safely and never passed on to other agencies without your prior consent.