Telephone Befriending
About organisation / project
ABOUT TOGETHER TALKS VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY
Would you like to make a difference in someone’s life? Do you want to gain experience supporting people with different backgrounds and needs? As a volunteer telephone befriender you will support the needs of your befriendee, encourage them to achieve their goals and help them feel confident and connected to their community.
WHO WILL I SUPPORT?
Together Talks connects different support services across Bradford, enabling us to reach befriendees from a range of backgrounds and support needs. We are proud to offer volunteers different befriending opportunities, including:
- General chit-chats with people who are lonely and socially isolated
- Before you begin, we will check your references and you will have a short telephone interview with the Together Talks Support Team to learn more about the service and decide which befriending option is best for you.
About Together Talks
Together Talks is a multi-agency initiative hosted by The Bridge Project, in Bradford. We are looking for people who would like to join us in helping to provide volunteer telephone befriending support to as many people as possible during this challenging time. If you're a friendly and supportive person who likes talking to people, then Together Talks is for you.
Who are we looking for?
If you are a friendly and supportive person who enjoys talking to people, then this is the role for you. As this is an at home telephone befriending service, volunteers can live anywhere, however all of our befriendees live in Bradford, West Yorkshire. You will be non-judgmental and caring, punctual and reliable, proactive and organised. You will need to undertake a small amount of e-learning and training. You will need to have a telephone, basic computer skills, internet access and an email address. Anyone over 18 can apply online. We will help you apply for a free DBS certificate!
Practical Considerations
WHAT DOES A TOGETHER TALKS TELEPHONE BEFRIENDER DO?
We will match you with a befriendee! You will arrange to call them for around 10-30 minutes, ranging from once a day to once a week. Calls are to be made Monday-Friday between 9:30am – 4:30pm. All volunteers will provide friendly conversation over the phone and some of our befriendees require support to overcome certain problems and achieve specific goals. You will provide updates after every call, reporting any feedback, issues or concerns to the Together Talks Support Team who are always a phone call/ email away if you need any support or guidance.
BENEFITS?
Above all you will be making a positive difference in your befriendee’s life. As a volunteer telephone befriender you will learn how to support others, make friends, become more confident, and practice communication skills. You will gain new and transferable skills contributing to your job-readiness and personal development, and much more!
Details Hide[-]
This is an exciting new oppurtunity which will allows you to provide support and give back to the community while gaining valuable skills which can be easilly transfered once in employment!
Key duties:
• To telephone Befriendee’s at their home for around 10 -30 minutes on a regular basis(For 6 weeks). You will arrange the exact times of your future calls direct with the Befriendee’s. This could range from once a day to once a week, but individual needs will be matched with your availability.
• To provide a telephone conversation, a listening ear and chat about interests and hobbies, helping to alleviate loneliness and feelings of isolation.
• To provide companionship and human interaction at a time when this may be limited.
• To signpost people to appropriate services for further support and act as a reliable source of information should it be required by the Befriendee.
• To provide updates to the Telephone Befriending Support Team on a weekly basis. This is so we can keep a track of the amount of befriending calls each volunteer is undertaking, the type of support being offered during these calls and if there is anything further required.
Additional information Hide[-]
Required Role
Telephone Befriending
Key responsibilities
1.Providing telephone companionship
2.Time Management of own befriender diary.
3.Weekly updates to admin team.
Mandatory SkillsHide[-]
- Communication
- Confidence
- Initiative
- Interpersonal
- Listening
- Non-discriminatory
- Non-judgemental
- Positive attitude
- Telephone
- Time Management
- Self Management
Desirable Skills
- Communication
- Confidence
- Initiative
- Interpersonal
- Listening
- Non-discriminatory
- Non-judgemental
- Planning and organising
- Positive attitude
- Telephone
- Self Management
Skill to gain
- Communication
- Confidence
- Listening
- Non-discriminatory
- Non-judgemental
- Positive attitude
- Problem solving
- Telephone
- Time Management
- Self Management
When can you do this role/Calendar
Minimum commitment level: Once a week
Start Date: 12-02-2024
Start Time: 12:00 AM
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- The University of Bradford Students' Union is a registered charity No. 1148622 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England VAT No. 180670072
