Welcome to the Befriending Network Scotland Member Discussion Forum.<br />Visit the <a href="http://www.befriending.co.uk/">Befriending Network Scotland website</a>. http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/index.php Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:18:23 +0100 Phorum 5.2.7 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,179,179#msg-179 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,179,179#msg-179
A quick query regarding cash floats.

I would be interested to hear how other services manage cash floats for their befrienders? In particular, those whos befrienders don't come to their work building regularly and tend to use the young persons home as a base. We are proposing 'cash tins' with a float allocate each month - the tins are then brought to supervision every 4/6weeks and topped up (given accurate reciepts are provided).

I appreciate any information you could give me, as we are a new,y developed project you can imagine how helpful your feedback is!

My email is hannah@ssba.org.uk

Thanks
Hannah]]> hannahkinney Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:32:49 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,174,174#msg-174 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,174,174#msg-174
Just a quick query: we've recently been told by our safeguarding manager that we should not allow potential volunteers to undertake any training until we have received their Disclosure back satisfactorily. This is a UK-wide policy for our organisation.

I just wondered what the situation is in Scotland and whether this new directive has been issued because of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (England, Wales & NI)? I hadn't heard anything up here to suggest that, legally, prospective volunteers can't receive training until their Disclosures are back and just wondered if others had?

Jess.]]> Jess Wade Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:30:24 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,173,173#msg-173 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,173,173#msg-173
My project involves sessional workers traveling to and from the young person they are befriending's house before and after each session. It has been suggested that sessional workers should be able to claim back travel expenses incurred and be paid their hourly rate from the time they leave their own house.

We currently cover the cost of any travel expenses incurred during the outing with the young person, and are unsure if we should be covering these additional costs as well?

I would appreciate feedback on how other services deal with the issue of travel to and from the persons house?

My email is hannah@ssba.org.uk

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Hannah]]> hannahkinney Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:53:17 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,172,172#msg-172 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,172,172#msg-172
"Virgin Trains is to offer charity workers a 20 per cent discount for work-related journeys on its advance train tickets (including peak times). The company claims it is the first train operator to make such an offer, which starts on 13 August and includes advance fares for all routes, including peak-time journeys. To qualify for the discount for their staff, organisations must get at least 10 per cent of their annual income from voluntary sources and must register as a charity with Virgin Trains CharityLine. If a charity’s annual income is more than £500,000, it will have to provide a link to its accounts on the Charity Commission website as confirmation. Charity staff travelling under the scheme must travel with identification or a letter of authorisation to prove they are making a work-related journey. Tickets can be booked until 23:59 the day before travel.
"This is a way we can provide benefits to lots of charities, which we are happy to do," said Richard Burns, communications manager for Virgin Trains. "We hope uptake will be high."

All the best,

Sam]]> Samantha Rospigliosi Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:45:08 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,170,170#msg-170 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,170,170#msg-170
Hope you're all enjoying the summer so far.

All the best,

Sam]]> Samantha Rospigliosi Befriending Network Scotland Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:58:30 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,167,167#msg-167 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,167,167#msg-167
I hope you are enjoying our sunny weather at long last! Thrive are starting 'group' befriending and we would like some advice. What do you think is the ideal ratio of befrienders to befriendees? Is there a minimum and maximum number of clients that should work with 2 befrienders?

Many Thanks in advance,

Alison]]> Alison Barr Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:37:03 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,164,164#msg-164 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,164,164#msg-164
I run a Volunteer Befriending project for adults with physical disabilities. I've had a few requests from volunteers about how to handle different moods of their Befriendees sensitively. Does anyone know of an organisation that might run training on this kind of topic?

Thank you!

Rosiaina]]> Rosiaina Browning Befriending Network Scotland Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:06:08 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,162,162#msg-162 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,162,162#msg-162
1. Do any befriending projects have volunteers or other supporters who ever undertake fundraising activities for them? (eg sponsored events) It’s not something we hear about very often and we would be interested in any case studies (and photographs!) for the newsletter.

2. If so, do you set up on-line donation facilities using fundraising websites? Which sites do you use? Are they good value for small charities? Some seem to have high monthly charges which might make them only affordable for larger organisations.

Thanks,
Martha]]> Martha Lester-Cribb Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 28 May 2010 15:11:54 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,158,158#msg-158 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,158,158#msg-158
Does anyone have a a template letter for when a befriending relationship comes to an end that can be sent to the client.

I am stuck as to how best to do this

Many thanks

Lesley Kerr
Befriending co-ordinator SLTU]]> Lesley Kerr Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 07 May 2010 11:04:52 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,156,156#msg-156 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,156,156#msg-156
Leaha Knapp]]> Neil Ellis Befriending Network Scotland Tue, 04 May 2010 11:19:59 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,155,155#msg-155 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,155,155#msg-155
My name is Brigitte Matthews. I have replaced Catherine King, Senior Co-ordinator for K&D Befriending and I would very much value feedback from anyone who has undertaken, or is in the process of undertaking, one of the above.

Cheers
Brigitte

Email: befriending@hotmail.com
Tel.: 01569 765714]]> Brigitte Matthews Befriending Network Scotland Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:44:00 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,153,153#msg-153 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,153,153#msg-153
Are there any projects who have a paid admin worker who is also a volunteer befriender? If so, have there ever been any issues, for example, around boundaries etc? If not, what are your views on this subject?

Looking forward to hearing your comments.

Flora]]> Flora Todd Befriending Network Scotland Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:50:34 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,152,152#msg-152 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,152,152#msg-152 Elaine]]> Elaine Smith Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:35:00 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,150,150#msg-150 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,150,150#msg-150
Was looking for some help. A few of our befrienders are entering befriendees homes alone and we do not have any risk assessment for that as all staff enter clients homes in pairs and 90% of our matches meet up in public places. Does anyone have the risk assessment paperwork which they use in their project for befrienders entering befriendees homes alone.

Any help would be appreciated

Louise]]> Louise Gibson Befriending Network Scotland Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:54:01 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,148,148#msg-148 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,148,148#msg-148 I have enjoyed being part of the network and want to thank the people I got to know for their support over the years, especially setting this project up. Never thought I'd get there but I did and with huge, huge help from BNS, most grateful to you guys n' gals.
Wishing you all the very best in your projects and that we all get to see the end of the DFS sale. We can only dream.

Regards

Claire]]> David Griffiths/ Claire Lawrie Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:17:20 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,147,147#msg-147 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,147,147#msg-147
Kim Taylor]]> Arlene Sutherland Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:57:21 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,145,145#msg-145 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,145,145#msg-145 We don't want to start 'telephone befriending', but we would like to start a weeekly call to those potential befriendees who we have assessed, and accepted as appropriate - but dont have a suitable match for

We have now identified a volunteer caller - A previous 1 to 1 befriender who's not now fit enough to visit.

We'd like some advice from any project that does something similar
Q. Do you try to arrange one meeting of the caller with the waiting befriendee? So that they can put a face to the caller

Q. Do you have a method or recording on paper the calls?.

Q. Does your caller come into the project to make the calls

Q How often is he/she called

Q. Can we steal your ideas?

Thanks Muchly for any advice you can give

Brian Smith
BeFriend in Bellshill]]> Brian Smith Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:56:38 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,143,143#msg-143 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,143,143#msg-143
We are collecting examples that illustrate specific benefits of befriending from a health point of view – things like a reduction in service use. If anyone has any recent/good examples, I'd love to know. We will circulate these findings to the membership in due course.

If you'd prefer to email me rather than the whole Forum, then feel free to do so - my email address is sam@befriending.co.uk

A million thanks in advance

Sam Rospigliosi]]> Samantha Rospigliosi Befriending Network Scotland Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:14:26 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,142,142#msg-142 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,142,142#msg-142
We had a recent discussion about this and have put in place some in house procedures to safe guard staff. We are currently considering guidance to offer between volunteers and the young person/young adult they are matched with and are looking to add in a case scenario in our boundaries training week for all new volunteers, for them to consider.

I wonder if any others have had issues about this or if you have any thoughts on what would be best practice on communicating through this means via staff, volunteers and clients.

Cheers, Lynn Tulloch
Project Co-ordinator
Shetland Befriending Scheme]]> Lynn Tulloch Befriending Network Scotland Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:06:21 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,141,141#msg-141 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,141,141#msg-141 Chance 4 Change Befriending and Mentoring Project Worker

Full-time post: 35 hours (job share considered)
Salary: £18,324 - £20,673 (3-year fixed-term contract)
Deadline for applications: 5 February 2010
Location: Galashiels, Borders

Chance 4 Change assists vulnerable children and young people, aged between 10 and 18 years, during transitional challenges in their life. We help them discover ways to overcome life's difficulties through our dedicated group of volunteer befriender/mentors.

As Project Worker, you will support the Chance 4 Change Co-ordinator in developing and implementing this Borders-wide project. The successful candidate will have experience of working with the needs of young people, an understanding of the role and recruitment of volunteers, have good organisational skills and have excellent communication and presentation capabilities.

Main duties include: communicating with young people and referring agencies, project promotion, recruiting, training and matching volunteers as well as providing ongoing support. Monitoring, evaluating and reporting.

Social care (SVQ Level 3) is desired but relevant experience will be considered. A full, clean driving license and the use of a car is essential. For a job description, please log on to www.gypborders.co.uk/chance4change, email info@gypborders.co.uk or telephone 01896 754613.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of application and a CV to Lisa Cowan, Chance 4 Change Co-ordinator, GYP Borders, 25 Bridge Street, Galashiels TD1 1SW by Friday, 5 February 2010.]]> Samantha Rospigliosi Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:32:46 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,139,139#msg-139 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,139,139#msg-139
Does anyone have a policy/guidelines around handling finances for befriendees and befrienders. For example if a volunteer helps a person they are visiting with shopping/paying bills/going to the bank - does your scheme allow this? If so what policies/procedures do you have in place - how do you manage this - maybe particularly relevant for befriending relationships, where the befriendee is housebound or lives remotely.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Wendy]]> Wendy White Befriending Network Scotland Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:03:50 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,137,137#msg-137 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,137,137#msg-137
I work for a time limited befriending service supporting adults with mental health difficulties. We can support 18 self referrals at anyone time (our other referrals come via Community Mental Health Teams). Each month we have over 10 enquiries from people looking to self refer.

Some time ago we decided not to hold a waiting list for the service because people were waiting for many years. At this point, we decided to take on referrals when a space came up in the project but this felt very unfair because it was a matter of service users phoning at the right time to get a place- it was pure chance.

So.... we then changed our system to the one we have now where we let everyone who enquires know in advance a date when we are opening our service and how many service users we can take on, and then we ask them to call on that date as close to 11am as possible. This now means that we can, for example, take on 7 new referrals within 3 minutes of 11am and then the other 20 or so people who call are told the next date to call back.

This does not feel great either - some people call each time but do not get a place, we are not working with those who most need or will benefit from the service. The staff also have to deal with a lot of frustration and anger on the days we open our service.

At the same time though, we are unable to assess everyone who enquires to the service becasue we don't have the hours.

We are looking for help- what systems do you use? How successful are they?

Many thanks in advance for taking the time at this busy time of year to reply to us.

Wendy]]> Wendy Bates / Kevin Kent / Ruth Coates Befriending Network Scotland Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:20:47 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,136,136#msg-136 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,136,136#msg-136
I work for a time limited befriending service supporting adults with mental health difficulties. We can support 18 self referrals at anyone time (our other referrals come via Community Mental Health Teams). Each month we have over 10 enquiries from people looking to self refer.

Some time ago we decided not to hold a waiting list for the service because people were waiting for many years. At this point, we decided to take on referrals when a space came up in the project but this felt very unfair because it was a matter of service users phoning at the right time to get a place- it was pure chance.

So.... we then changed our system to the one we have now where we let everyone who enquires know in advance a date when we are opening our service and how many service users we can take on, and then we ask them to call on that date as close to 11am as possible. This now means that we can, for example, take on 7 new referrals within 3 minutes of 11am and then the other 20 or so people who call are told the next date to call back.

This does not feel great either - some people call each time but do not get a place, we are not working with those who most need or will benefit from the service. The staff also have to deal with a lot of frustration and anger on the days we open our service.

At the same time though, we are unable to assess everyone who enquires to the service becasue we don't have the hours.

We are looking for help- what systems do you use? How successful are they?

Many thanks in advance for taking the time at this busy time of year to reply to us.

Wendy]]> Wendy Bates / Kevin Kent / Ruth Coates Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:42:56 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,135,135#msg-135 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,135,135#msg-135
I work for a time limited befriending service supporting adults with mental health difficulties. We can support 18 self referrals at anyone time (our other referrals come via Community Mental Health Teams). Each month we have over 10 enquiries from people looking to self refer.

Some time ago we decided not to hold a waiting list for the service because people were waiting for many years. At this point, we decided to take on referrals when a space came up in the project but this felt very unfair because it was a matter of service users phoning at the right time to get a place- it was pure chance.

So.... we then changed our system to the one we have now where we let everyone who enquires know in advance a date when we are opening our service and how many service users we can take on, and then we ask them to call on that date as close to 11am as possible. This now means that we can, for example, take on 7 new referrals within 3 minutes of 11am and then the other 20 or so people who call are told the next date to call back.

This does not feel great either - some people call each time but do not get a place, we are not working with those who most need or will benefit from the service. The staff also have to deal with a lot of frustration and anger on the days we open our service.

At the same time though, we are unable to assess everyone who enquires to the service becasue we don't have the hours.

We are looking for help- what systems do you use? How successful are they?

Many thanks in advance for taking the time at this busy time of year to reply to us.

Wendy]]> Wendy Bates / Kevin Kent / Ruth Coates Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:42:45 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,134,134#msg-134 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,134,134#msg-134
1) How the Lottery application process can be improved
2) How the Lottery can reduce the number of organisations who invest time, resources and effort into unsuccessful funding applications

If you've got any suggestions, please let us know by this Thursday (26th). You can email us directly on info@befriending.co.uk if you would prefer to keep suggestions anonymous and out of the Forum.

A million thanks in advance

Sam]]> Samantha Rospigliosi Befriending Network Scotland Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:35:20 +0000 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,131,131#msg-131 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,131,131#msg-131
I'm very proud to say that Thrive have finished our initial befriending training and are starting to work with befriendees. Thanks to all for the support to get us to this stage. We want to give our befrienders training specific to lone working and I was wondering if anyone has any info about this. Do you do this yourself? Have you outsourced this, and if so where to?

Many Thanks,

Alison Barr]]> Alison Barr Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:21:17 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,128,128#msg-128 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,128,128#msg-128
In regard to drug addiction is there guidance on how long the person has been off drugs before you would consider them for befriending or maybe if they are still on methadone is there a period of time or level of dosage that you would be confident in training this person to befriend a vulnerable adult.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated]]> Louise Gibson Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:10:22 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,123,123#msg-123 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,123,123#msg-123
Just wanted to enquire how other projects work in relation to the above - do your volunteers do a written summary of the meetings or not and if so how do you work it?

Thanks]]> mags drohan Befriending Network Scotland Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:03:50 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,119,119#msg-119 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,119,119#msg-119
"We have had an issue raised over what our practice is re allowing volunteers to drink alcohol during the times they are meeting with service users, particularly if they are driving.

Although we give informal guidance that volunteers should not drink at all if they are going to drive, this is not formally part of our policies: looking at HSE (Health & Safety Executive) advice, I think we should probably make this position formal and specifically draw it to volunteers' attention.

However, if driving is not involved, is there anything to say what a sensible limit should be?"]]> Mike Nicholson Befriending Network Scotland Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:41:03 +0100 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,114,114#msg-114 http://www.befriending.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,114,114#msg-114
really hope someone can help with my query. I have a volunteer who is interested in becoming a befriender, however she has epilepsy. She was placed at another volunteering opportunity and last week she had a seizure. As a result of this I am a little apprehensive about placing her with a vulnerable person. The ethos of our company is about removing barriers for individuals and was wondering if anyone has experience of a similar situation.

Would appreciate any advice on this.

Thanks in advance
Kirsty Smith]]> Norah Taylor Befriending Network Scotland Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:17:00 +0100