Currently we need volunteers who can give 1 – 2 hours of their time each week to help support a vulnerable Hackney resident who may be experiencing social isolation and loneliness.

As many diverse volunteers speaking community languages - we will be particularly interested to hear from you if you speak Turkish or Spanish. We are also specifically looking for male Punjabi and Polish speakers, and female Bengali and Portuguese speakers..

By becoming a Community Befriender you’ll help enhance the quality of a local resident's life by supporting and promoting their confidence and help them focus on their Health and Well being.

This person might need support in one or more of the following areas:
• Social Isolation and Loneliness
• Confidence Building
• Physical Health/Mental Health

They may have limited English, may have been supported to integrate into our Hackney community as a Refugee, Migrant or Asylum Seeker.

This role is now either
Telephone based
Home visiting housebound service users.
Meeting a vulnerable service user at their door and supporting them out for a walk or getting out for a coffee.

Key tasks:
Act as a listening ear.
Help build confidence and self-esteem.
Offer support in identifying and achieving goals and aspirations currently and long term.
To develop and promote a positive relationship(s) with the individual.
Keep records for calls feeding back and ensuring urgent issues are reported straight away.
Ensure own well being, checking in via individual or group supervision.

What we provide:
Full training, including boundaries, safeguarding, lone working.
Mental health awareness and communication skills.
Regular supervision, with clinical professional.
Ongoing contact and support.
Reference for further education and employment