Befriending

Our clients are older people who may be at risk of social isolation due to ill health, bereavement or lack of family support.

Could you invest some of your free time to:

• Support older people at risk of loneliness and social isolation?
• Build confidence and improved health and well-being?
• Build a network of friends for an older person to reach out to?
• Provide practical support ie: help with shopping, pharmacy collections?
• With Age NI’s knowledge and help could you improve someone’s live by pointing them in the direction of necessary services and activities in their area?

Benefits to you!

You will gain a friend, be a friend and meet new people

• Learn new skills and share existing ones
• Feel good about making a positive life changing difference for an individual and your community
• Gain knowledge on available services and activities and how to access them locally
• Increase employability / volunteering opportunities

The Age NI Team

The Age NI team will be on hand to support you every step of the way. We will provide training and guidance, one to one support, out of pocket expenses and we will be available when you need us.

As part of the befriending project you are required to attend two training sessions, one session 1 and one session 2. Please see the draft training agenda outlined below. Location and dates to be confirmed.

Session 1

Session 1 lasts approximately 3 hours and will include:

• Age NI induction
• The befriending process
• The role and boundaries around befriending 
• Health and Safety

Option 1: Tuesday 24 April 2012
1:30pm Meet for tea and scones
2pm Training commences
4:30pm Finish

Option 2: Tuesday 24 April 2012
6pm Meet for tea and scones
6:30pm Training commences
9pm Finish

Session 2

Session 2 lasts approximately 3 hours and will include:

• Vulnerable adults training
• Dementia awareness
• Age NI's Volunteer Policy
• Talk by Sam Cunningham - Age NI's First Connect Coordinator for the area

Option 1: Tuesday 1 May 2012
1:30pm Meet for tea and scones
2pm Training commences
4:30pm Finish

Option 2: Tuesday 1 May 2012
6pm Meet for tea and scones
6:30pm Training commences
9pm Finish

Contact

Una Mulgrew
Telephone: 07435 960 543
Email: befriending@ageni.org

Download the leaflet Befriending Leaflet (PDF 218KB)

Referrals

For Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) team members wishing to make a referral, please complete the attached form and email to befriending@ageni.org

Download:

Befriending Referral Form (DOC 43KB)
Befriending Referral Form (PDF 162KB)

www.ageni.org/befriending