Volunteer Befriender

Would you like to support older people in your local community? 

Do you have a few hours to spare on a weekly basis?

MHA Communities - Winchester is a charity offering volunteer based support and friendship to older people living in their own homes; helping to maintain independent living, improve well-being and reduce isolation and loneliness. We aim to help older people maintain their independence by offering opportunities for companionship, support and advice.

MHA Communities - Winchester is supported by volunteers who assist in variety of different ways.

What would I be doing as a Volunteer Befriender?

The aim of our Volunteer Befrienders is to help improve the quality of life for older people (in Winchester and the surrounding villages) who are socially isolated and reduce feelings of loneliness. Befriending is exactly what it sounds like – getting people together for companionship. Many older people living in their own homes can become isolated and lonely, but with a regular weekly visit MHA Communities can help stop this from happening.

Volunteers must be fully committed to this role, be patient, trustworthy and reliable with excellent listening and interpersonal skills.

We also have volunteering opportunities for:

• Volunteer Telephone Befrienders - the aim of our Volunteer Telephone Befrienders is to help improve the quality of life for older people who are socially isolated and reduce feelings of loneliness. Volunteers are required to ring an older person to check on them and build a friendship and chat about shared interests. Weekly calls usually last 30 minutes to around one hour
• Volunteer One to One Walking Befriender - the aim of our Volunteer One to One Walking Befriender is to help improve the quality of life for older people by accompanying them on a short walk on a weekly basis.

Skills

Skills and qualities needed for this role:

• Excellent listening skills
• Patience, empathy and understanding of the needs of older people
• You will be reliable, punctual and flexible
• You will have a clear sense of personal boundaries
• You have the ability to provide a supportive and non-judgmental service
• You’ll be willing to engage with training and development
• You will have a good understanding of personal strengths and limitations
• You’ll be able to maintain confidentiality 

What impact would I have?

Visiting a member on a weekly basis sounds really simple, but having someone to talk to and someone to listen, could really make a difference to an older person.

How does it work?

Our Volunteer Befrienders are matched with a member to visit weekly providing company, companionship and reduce isolation and loneliness.

Why volunteer for MHA?

If you are passionate about caring for older people, MHA is the place for you. We are a national charity inspiring the best care at every stage of later life. It is our mission to enable people to live later life well and you could help us achieve this. We will provide you with ongoing training, support and advice throughout your volunteering experience.

How to get involved?

Initially we will contact you to invite you into our office in Winchester to have an informal discussion regarding our current volunteering opportunities, discuss your suitability to the role and your availability.

Our Central Volunteering Team will carry out the onboarding and induction process with you remotely.

You will need to:-

• provide details of two character references who you have known for at least 2 years
• attend an online induction (usually by Teams)
• complete a DBS application online (including providing suitable ID in person at our office in Winchester)
• complete a Volunteer Agreement
• complete various online training courses depending on the volunteer role. Courses may include for example, Safeguarding, Dementia Friends and First Aid.

Volunteers benefit from local support during your volunteering role, annual reviews, ongoing training and out of pocket expenses.