Young Person's Befriending Service - Volunteer Glasgow

About the role

Volunteer Glasgow’s Young Persons Befriending Service provides support to isolated and vulnerable 8–18 year olds living in funded areas of Glasgow. The service matches young people who are experiencing difficulties with adult volunteers who are recruited, trained and supported. YPBS is designed for young people who are experiencing difficulties – these may relate to unusual pressures at home; health or disability issues or some other factor and many have had experiences of relationships which have been inconsistent or unreliable.

Befriending seeks to offer these young people a different experience – one where they have opportunities for new and positive activities, where they have choices, where they can learn to trust their own judgement and where they can have fun. This sounds like a tall order but with weekly visits with a volunteer befriender who holds the young person in positive regard, access to age appropriate activities, support from experienced and informed staff and enough time a relationship can be built which allows the young person to develop confidence, skills and resilience.

YPBS Volunteers are adults who are interested in supporting a young person, are able to spend time with someone once a week for between 2 and 3 hours and are able to commit to a befriending relationship which may be difficult and will certainly require several months to develop. This should be seen as a long term investment in yourself.

What are the benefits of becoming a befriender to young person?
• You will access a high quality volunteering opportunity.
• You will undergo extensive training with on-going possibility for additional skills and personal development.
• You will gain experience and skills valuable to employers and training/ Further education providers.
• You will have an opportunity to make a significant positive impact on a young person, their outlook and development.
• You will have fun and have a chance to try new activities or revisit ones you haven’t done for years.

YPBS will provide Foundation training (around 15 hours) as part of the recruitment and selection process. That way you will know what will be expected of you as a Befriender and what you can expect from YPBS in terms of support. The training is designed to prepare you for the role of Befriender and to allow YPBS to get to know you so that we can make the most appropriate matches of Befrienders and young people. We match volunteers on the basis that they are the best befriender for an individual young person in terms of abilities, experience and personal qualities. Secondly, we will seek the match for each volunteer which best addresses their interests, motivations and aspirations. We also provide ongoing training on topics relating to befriending and young people.
Expenses for travel and activities can be claimed and an initial float is supplied so that you are not out of pocket.

Where is it based?

Glasgow

Next Steps

Email Befriending Support Worker Sorcha at sorcha.mullen@volunteerglasgow.org, or Volunteer Glasgow Enquiries at info@volunteerglasgow.org

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