Time on your hands? Looking
for work or changing career? Why not share your skills
& experience working as a volunteer with young people
in South Ayrshire.
The South Ayrshire Befriending
Committee funds and oversees a team to manage and develop
the South Ayrshire Befriending Project. Initially the
committee successfully gained funding from BBC Children
in Need & The National Lottery Charities Board.
Funding now comes from a variety of sources including
South Ayrshire Council.
Through the project a valuable source
of extra help and support is being provided to young
people throughout the area.
The South Ayrshire Befriending Project
creates opportunities for people to play an active part
in the life of their community.
Young People who are vulnerable
for a variety of reasons are involved in the project:
some may be experienced problems at home or at school;
some may have a physical or learning disability; while
others may be adjusting to a new situations or just
need a break from day to day pressures. Typically though
the young people are aged 8-18 years and in need of
extra support and adult attention.
Befrienders provide supportive
friendships and act as positive role models for the
children and young people, often enabling them to pursue
and develop a particular interest or hobby and generally
broaden their horizons.
Befrienders make a commitment to
meet a young person once a week or fortnight, depending
on their own situations and commitments. They offer
a couple of hours to build friendship through spending
time talking and sharing activities which they both
enjoy.
As a befriender you can go out for
a meal, go swimming, play football, visit the cinema
or just meet for a coffee and a chat. Befrienders gain
the satisfaction of sharing their skills and experience
with someone who needs them and the fun of doing something
different.
Any responsible adult from the
South Ayrshire are can become a South Ayrshire Befriender,
regardless of previous skills or experience. People
from all walks of life are South Ayrshire Befrienders:
students, parents, retired people with valuable life
experience and people with particular abilities which
they would like to share.
- Available for a minimum of six months.
- Willing to share a few hours a week or fortnight.
- Able to supply two references and consent to a police
check.
As a volunteer befriender, you
will face the challenge of getting to know a young person
and the reward of developing a relationship wit them.
There is a six week period of preparatory group training
for all volunteers, before individually matching them
carefully with a young person. South Ayrshire Befriending
Project provides travel and out of pocket expenses, as
well as supervision. On completion of the project befrienders
receive a certificate and references from S.A.B.P in recognition
of their involvement with the project.
Please Note that potential volunteer
befrienders will need to supply two references and attend
an interview. Some former befrienders have used their
experience as a stepping stone to a career in the caring
field , for example as social workers and youth workers.
Others just enjoy a break from their routine. The young
people benefit from the energy and enthusiasm of their
befrienders and gain confidence from forming a positive
relationship with supportive adults.
If
you are interested in becoming a volunteer befriender
with the S.A.B.P. please contact us on:
Telephone: 01292 264000
Fax: 01292 264555
E-mail: enquiries@sabp.freeserve.co.uk
Website: www.southayrshirebefriending.org
42A New Road
Ayr
KA8 9EX
The S.A.B.P. would like to thank their funders and all
who support them. |
