BEFRIENDING SERVICE

We provide:

Mentoring training and support to people receiving professional support for their mental health needs or who have been in receipt of primary or secondary care services.
Peer-led Social Groups, Outings and Community Activities delivered by trained and supported peers who have themselves experienced mental ill health.
Support to people who use our services to ensure that their voices are heard in the development of both Richmond Fellowship’s Hammersmith and Fulham Employment and Wellbeing Service and also other local mental health services.

Volunteer Befriending Programme

We provide:

Training, supervision and support to people who want to volunteer as Befrienders.
Befriending Matching and Support: offering friendship, support and practical assistance with day to day tasks, helping people experiencing mental ill health, and who may be feeling isolated and lonely feel more connected to their local community.

Where:

Richmond Fellowship Employment and Wellbeing Service

Richford Gate Medical Practice, Lower Ground Basement, Richford Street, London, W6 7HY and at venues throughout the Borough.

When:

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and at other times by arrangement.

Phone:

0330 008 3808

Email:

hfemploymentandwellbeing@richmondfellowship.org.uk

Download Referral Form

wellbeing services Hammersmith and Fulham

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BEFRIENDER AT RICHMOND FELLOWSHIP

Hi I’m Robin and I’m a befriender at Richmond Fellowship’s Hammersmith and Fulham Employment and Wellbeing service. To be a befriender you need four things: empathy, charisma, commitment and passion. Oh and you have to be a good listener!

Most befrienders will spend 1-2 hours a week volunteering, but this can increase as you become more comfortable and confident with talking to people. You may eventually be matched with several people to provide companionship.

On any given day you could be talking, providing one to one support, going for walks together, exploring new places like parks and museums, meeting for coffee or accompanying your befriendee to appointments or a social group. I enjoy hearing positive feedback and about personal growth. Many of the people I speak with are very grateful for the service, which makes me proud to be a part of it. Befriending has helped me learn the value of silence in conversation, not rushing to fill gaps, but using the time to think. I have learnt that I am a good listener.

As a befriending volunteer you will also need to attend group supervision once a quarter with the option of individual support. Group support is an opportunity to meet with other volunteers at Richmond Fellowship and reflect on how your volunteering is going, what you’ve found challenging, what you’ve enjoyed and what you’ve learnt. Hearing that people are going through difficult times in their lives can be challenging, but being there to offer companionship and signpost to services that can help is a positive side.

Volunteering with Richmond Fellowship Hammersmith and Fulham Employment and Wellbeing Service will also provide you with the opportunity for training. On top of your induction training, we offer Open College Network (OCN) training which covers what it is to be a volunteer, essential skills that you need and understanding recovery, as well as the option of a Tell your story module. But best of all befriending has helped me develop my interpersonal skills, giving me valuable experience working with people.

Download Application Form

BEFRIENDING SERVICE

We provide:

Volunteer Befriending Programme

We provide:

Where:

When:

Phone:

Email:

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BEFRIENDER AT RICHMOND FELLOWSHIP

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