Hampshire Hospitals Befriending Service is October’s Cause of the Month!

30 October 2018

About Hampshire Hospitals Befriending Service

This is a service for people who are suffering from a life limiting or chronic illness and are lonely or isolated. The service offers to help and try to reduce social isolation and for patients to form a trusting relationship with a volunteer befriender, which in turn may enable them to:

  • acquire a greater degree of self-confidence and emotional growth
  • enhance their capacity to make use of resources available within the community, i.e. other voluntary organisations/statutory agencies
  • cultivate and maintain relationships with others

We support patients within the Hampshire Hospitals catchment, including Winchester and Alton.

Volunteering with Hampshire Hospitals Befriending Service

As a volunteer befriender you will be visiting the patients in their own homes. In building a trusting relationship you can help to restore emotional well-being, confidence and feelings of self-worth.

Regular social companionship can often help decrease the number of GP visits/phone calls a patient might make, and in some cases lessen the number of hospital admissions. Volunteer befrienders are a vital link between the patient and the health professional, safeguarding early intervention if/where necessary.

We currently have 57 trained volunteers across the Hampshire Hospitals area and our volunteers seem to get as much out of their role as the patients do.  Our volunteers have commented, “It is a fulfilling role, being able to support and listen to someone who has become vulnerable through illness.” “I feel as if I really do make a difference.  I know that my visit is looked forward to.”

Volunteer Befrienders need to be 18 years of age or above due to the nature of the role. All roles will be offered subject to satisfactory interview, references, health clearance and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).

If accepted you will be required to attend a 2 day training course and regular ongoing supervision meetings.

How to get involved

Register your interest in becoming a Volunteer Befriender

 

CARE AND COMPASSION     ACCOUNTABILITY     RESPECT     ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER

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