Befriending Youth Scheme - Introduction

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The Befriending Youth Scheme aims to provide volunteer befrienders for children and young people aged 8 to 18 who live within the Renfrewshire area.

Adult volunteers support children and young people who become known to the Social Work Service because they are experiencing difficulties within their communities or as a result of their offending behaviour.

Rather than concentrating on young people's problems or difficult behaviour, our work will focus on helping to develop better attitudes by encouraging constructive hobbies and skills.

We recruit ordinary adults of all ages living in or around the Renfrewshire area who have a genuine interest in helping young people. By regularly giving a little free time, taking the trouble to listen or by sharing an interest or hobby, they provide important support. As little as an hour or two of their free time each week can make a major difference to a young person.

The scheme has a clear and strong recruiting process and we offer our befrienders training, ongoing support and out-of-pocket expenses.

We will respond to enquiries and requests for applications to the Befriending Youth Scheme within one working day.
Everyone who applies for the Befriending Youth Scheme will receive a nominated worker who will deal with their application through all the stages of the recruitment process.
Everyone who applies for the Befriending Youth Scheme will receive relevant training.
Everyone who we accept as a volunteer befriender will have an allocated worker (this is different from your nominated worker, and will support you as a befriender).
All volunteer befrienders will receive support. This will take place every month, either on a one-to-one basis or at support meetings.
All volunteer befrienders will receive on-going training.

The following leaflets about the Befriending Service are available from the related content pages on the right hand side of this page: