Befriending Youth Scheme - information for volunteers

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What is the Befriending Scheme?

• a social work managed scheme
• provides volunteer befrienders for children and young people aged 10-16 years, who are experiencing difficulties in the community as a result of their offending behaviour
• volunteer befrienders are trained and selected to befriend a child/young person.

What's involved in befriending?

• befriending is offering support to a young person through a one to one consistent relationship with an adult volunteer
• befrienders will build up relationships with the child/young person by spending time listening and talking to them
• this usually happens through sharing time doing a hobby or pastime they both enjoy

What do we require from volunteers?

• must be 18 years or over
• be able to commit themselves to a minimum of six months in a befriending relationship
• must participate in the selection process where volunteers will have to undergo an informal interview, police check and training
• volunteers are ordinary people from every walk of life such as students, unemployed people, mothers. No specialist skills are required

What the scheme will give you?

• the opportunity to learn new skills through the initial and ongoing training
• ongoing support from the befriending scheme on an individual basis and group basis
• all reasonable expenses paid by the project
• increased self confidence and improved educational job prospects
• social fun and the chance to meet other volunteers

For further information please email: sw.paisley@renfrewshire.gov.uk

or phone: 0141 842 4160

or write to us at:

Befriending Youth Scheme
Kelvin House
River Cart Walk
Paisley PA1 1YSBack to top