Many people are finding it a lonely and worrying time not being able to see or meet up with friends and family. That’s why we have set up a telephone befriending service for people who would like to have a friendly voice to talk to a couple of times a week. The service is provided by volunteers who might themselves be self-isolating but nonetheless want to help others. The chats can be about anything and everything from hobbies and interests you may have to the good old British weather!
If you ask for a befriender, we’ll try and match you to someone we think is suitable based on what you tell us about yourself but you are free to change or stop the befriending at any time. Although our befrienders are ordinary members of the public themselves, they have their own support team in place in case issues are raised which they find troubling.
To request a telephone befriender, you can:
- Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Telephone us on 01872 266988
If you are interested in becoming a telephone befriender, you can volunteer in the normal way by:
- Completing our online volunteer form at https://www.volunteercornwall.org.uk/want-to-volunteer/register-to-volunteer
- Emailing us at cThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Community Telephone Befriender
Do you like to talk to people? Are you a good listener? If so this is the role for you.
You can register your interest in becoming a Telephone Befriender by completing our online volunteer form:
https://www.volunteercornwall.org.uk/want-to-volunteer/register-to-volunteer
Our Telephone Befrienders support individuals who are socially isolated with very limited social contact due to being physically unable to leave their home and would benefit from some telephone contact.
Volunteer Objectives:
Our objectives we hope to achieve whilst providing support are:
- To reduce feelings of social isolation
- To reduce feelings of loneliness
- To increase well-being
- To help with social distancing through suggestions of alternative online social interactions with others in their community
Volunteer Specification
Volunteers should:
- Be able to communicate well with other people
- Enjoy being good listeners
- To be able to understand and maintain confidentiality
- To be able to comply with all Volunteer Cornwall policies in every aspect of the role
You are not expected to visit the house or to undertake any other tasks. If you choose to do some shopping or collect any prescriptions you must let us know first so that we can log this activity. This is to keep you both safe and ensure that there are not any suggestions of financial misconduct at a later date.
Time Commitment
The contact time needs to be discussed with each individual as to their needs, and what they feel comfortable with. However, we are aware that we need to put some ‘boundaries’ in place to protect you as a volunteer. Therefore we suggest that there is an agreed time slot on a weekly basis for an initial two week period. This may continue or not depending on the wishes of both parties.
Support and Training
All volunteers will be offered some short online videos to guide them and access to online resources via our website (in development but available soon).
- Keeping Yourself safe
- Safeguarding training
- Telephone befriending
Wellbeing Mentors
All volunteers will be offered the option of a mentor to contact them once they have started telephone befriending so that they can discuss any concerns – either for their own wellbeing or the person they are befriending.
Safeguarding
VC will also be doing follow up calls to both you and the person you are befriending to ensure that you are both safe and happy with the arrangement.
If you have any concerns that may need reporting please follow Volunteer Cornwall’s processes.
Hints & Tips
Always agree a time limit to the call.
- Prepare a few ideas before your chat.
- Add 141 before your call to keep your number safe.
- Only discuss non personal information.
- Do not offer advice and guidance.
- Do not feel that you need to talk – sometimes you just need to listen. A quiet moment may just mean that the person needs to formulate an answer.
Confidentiality
Information concerning clients, volunteers or staff is strictly confidential and must not be disclosed to unauthorised persons. This obligation shall continue in perpetuity.
Disclosures of confidential information or disclosures of any data of a personal nature can result in prosecution for an offence under the Data Protection Act 1998, and GDPR 2018, or an action for civil damages under the same Act in addition to any disciplinary action taken by Volunteer Cornwall.
Already a Telephone Befriender with us - click here
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