As local children’s charity Befriend a Child celebrates an incredible 50 years of transforming the lives of children and young people, the charity is putting out a heartfelt call for new couple volunteers to join their mission.
Befriend a Child’s couple volunteer services offer a consistent, trustworthy and dependable relationship between a young person and the volunteers. The child is able to experience new opportunities, learn new skills and have fun, with two caring adults by their side. Volunteering as a couple offers a unique opportunity for partners to work together to support a young person, building a relationship that is genuine, reliable and supportive.
“Couple volunteers bring something really special,” says Jean Gordon, Head of Operations at Befriend a Child. “Children get the benefit of two positive role models, and the couple themselves get to share the joy of making a lasting difference in a young person’s life.”
The impact of volunteering as a couple is best seen through stories like Mark’s. A befriendee since 2014, Mark has grown up with the guidance and friendship of couple Jess and Stephen. From teaching him to swim, to fuelling his passion for cars, or simply being there to listen, Jess and Stephen’s dedication has been nothing short of life-changing.
Nicola Milne, Befriending Co-ordinator, adds: “We have young people on our waiting list right now who would thrive with the care, encouragement and stability that couple volunteers can provide. If you and your partner have a few hours a month to spare, you could give a child experiences and memories they’ll treasure forever.”
If you and your partner are non-judgmental, trustworthy, caring and patient, your time and dedication can help transform the children we support in both our befriending and mentoring programmes. We are committed to equipping volunteers with all the necessary skills to deliver quality befriending and mentoring programmes and to also help them handle situations which may arise during their time as a volunteer. Training provided by Befriend a Child covers a range of subjects from child protection laws to practical tips on planning outings with the child. All volunteers are PVG checked and support is offered throughout the befriending and mentoring journey.
If you think you and your partner would be interested in finding out more, please contact volunteer@befriendachild.org.uk today.