Investment theme: Improving health and well-being
Purpose:
To fund administration & phone costs, annual supervision costs, and monthly travel for volunteers as part of the befriending service
Year of grant: 27/2/2023
FR Number: FR-0066927
Amount awarded: £5000
Location: STIRLING
Full description
Our befriending service supports women to get back on their feet. A volunteer befriender can provide you with company, a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. Befrienders can help you to get out and about, develop new interests, improve your routine, build new friendships and support networks, increase your confidence and self-esteem. We support isolated women living in Central Belt of Scotland to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Our service is for women who have been traumatised or abused in the past but are in a safe place now.
Upon the completion of training, each volunteer is matched with one woman who has experienced childhood abuse, trauma, sexual violence and/or domestic abuse, and will be experiencing mental ill health and social isolation.
Our befrienders commit to 2-3 hours on a weekly basis for one year and attend monthly group and individual supervision.
Volunteer and their befriendee start by getting to know each other and gradually, getting out and about. As the relationship develops, they support and empower her to make changes and develop her confidence in doing everyday things such as getting the bus, joining a class or finding a new hobby.