Befriend a Child is calling on kind members of the local community to step forward and become volunteer befrienders, following the success of its summer volunteer recruitment campaign which helped take many children and young people off its waiting list.
The Aberdeen-based children's charity saw a strong response to its volunteer recruitment campaign in July, with members of the local community coming forward to offer their time and support to children and young people who are growing up in difficult life circumstances.
The response demonstrated just how much of a difference local people can make. However, there are still 23 boys waiting to be matched with a volunteer befriender, and the charity is now asking the community to show its support once again.
Befriend a Child has been supporting children and young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire since 1975. The charity works with children and young people who may be experiencing challenges in their lives, helping them build confidence, develop positive relationships and enjoy new experiences with a volunteer through consistent friendship and having a positive adult role model to look up to, confide in and have fun with.
Through its befriending programme, children aged 5 to 16 are matched with a trained adult volunteer befriender who spends time with them on a one-to-one basis. The relationship gives children someone they can rely on, have fun with and enjoy being themselves around, while opening up opportunities to experience more of what life has to offer.
Susanne McMenemy, Head of Operations at Befriend a Child, said: “In July, we saw just how much the local community can show support and help local children and young people who are in need of positive role models. The response was fantastic and meant that many children who had been waiting for support could be matched with a volunteer.
"Now, we need more kind members of the community to step forward and help us match the boys who are still waiting for a volunteer befriender. These children have been waiting over 4 months for someone to give them their time, friendship and encouragement, and we would love to see the community come together once again to help us reach them.”
Befriend a Child calls on local community to step forward for boys still waiting for a volunteer befriender
A volunteer befriender spends time with their young person twice a month, for a minimum of 12 months, enjoying fun activities together. This could be anything from visiting a local attraction, playing sports or games, getting outdoors, or simply spending quality time together.
For a child who may be facing difficult circumstances, having a trusted adult who turns up for them consistently can make a meaningful difference. It gives them the opportunity to build a positive relationship, try new things, have fun and create happy memories away from the challenges they may be experiencing at home.
With the winter months approaching, Befriend a Child is particularly keen to get these children matched so they can begin building a positive relationship with their volunteer and start enjoying new experiences together.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 12 months, giving children the consistency and stability needed to build a meaningful friendship. No previous qualifications or experience are required, with full training and ongoing support provided by Befriend a Child’s experienced staff team.
The charity is encouraging anyone who has just a few spare hours twice a month to consider becoming a volunteer befriender.
Whether you are working full-time, retired, studying or simply looking for a meaningful way to give something back to your community, your time could help a local child experience new opportunities, build confidence and, most importantly, enjoy being a child.
To find out more about becoming a volunteer befriender, visit https://www.befriendachild.org.uk/how-we-help/befriending/ or contact the Befriend a Child team at volunteer@befriendachild.org.uk