Volunteer Befrienders

Want to make a difference to the lives of people with a learning disability in your community? Discover new interests? Meet new people? Look no further than our fantastic volunteer befriending opportunity!

Equal Futures creates connections for people with a learning disability and their family carers through Circles of Support, befriending and social events. By joining our caring and knowledgeable team you will support someone to build their confidence and access opportunities they might previously have been isolated from. You will benefit from training and on-going skills development, as well as friendly, professional support from our Project Coordinators. Our befrienders play a crucial role within society. They can improve the self-esteem of someone with a learning disability who is lonely and isolated within their community. Befrienders also take the burden off other community services by simply providing someone with a friend to connect with.

What will you do as a Volunteer Befriender?

Befrienders, as part of the Circle of Support, help a person we support build their confidence and participate in social activities within their community. This may include going for walks, participating in clubs or classes together, or attending Equal Future’s social events. Befrienders attend the circle meetings (usually bimonthly) and meet one-on-one with the person we support weekly or fortnightly. As a volunteer you may sometimes also offer kind and friendly support to not only the individual, but their family as well, depending on the circumstance. An Equal Futures Project Co-ordinator will be there for you throughout your entire volunteering experience.

You’ll enjoy lots of benefits being a Volunteer Befriender, such as:

• Learning from an experienced and knowledgeable team
• Meeting new people and sharing insights
• Volunteering on a flexible basis that fits in with your life
• Access to free training and regular support
• Social opportunities with other Volunteers
• Improved self-esteem & confidence
• Improved communication skills
• Advantageous for relevant careers
• Reduced loneliness and better mental health
• Feeling valued in our friendly team
• Seeing the difference that you’re making

We welcome applicants from ALL sections of the community and will work flexibly with you to ensure your volunteering journey is a positive and satisfying experience.

If you have any questions or would like an informal chat, please contact us!