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Strive Befriending Service |
The befriending service promotes the involvement of volunteers to befriend isolated and vulnerable people living in East Lothian. We offer support to people with mental health difficulties; people with disabilities or long term illnesses; people with learning difficulty; young people aged 16 plus; older people and people who are carers.
Project aims & objectives:
To encourage people to get out and about and try new activities.
To provide individual support and companionship through our home visiting volunteers.
To offer a couple of hours respite to carers via home visitoring volunteers.
To recruit volunteers to help with the above and offer training & support.
About Befriending
Everyone needs other people, but not everyone has someone. For people who become isolated because of ill health, disability or social disadvantage, being matched with a befriender often fills a big gap. The people most suited to befriending are those who are interested in other people, are good listeners, are reliable and have 2-3 hours available to commit each week. Often previous experience is not needed. It’s more about who you are than what you’ve done. Befriending is a chance to give something as a volunteer through your time and commitment and every befriender has stories of what they get back in return.
