Stanley Development Trust

Stanley Development Trust - our purpose is to improve the quality of life and the environment of the village of Stanley and its surrounding rural area.

Part of our Care & Wellbeing Project, the befriending service aims to provide social support to people and families who are challenged by illness, disability, advancing years, or crisis and those at risk of social isolation and loneliness, including individuals whose lifestyle or conduct gives rise to problems for themselves or others.

It is a free service and is available to people living in the village of Stanley and the surrounding rural area. The service endeavours to match up people with a volunteer befriender – someone who will meet regularly with the person to do things together that they both enjoy. Some examples of activities that the pair might do together are: going for a coffee and a chat / cinema trip / going for a walk / doing crosswords and puzzles / joining a local group / shopping trip.

Our volunteer befrienders are trained for the role and they are members of the PVG Scheme.

Information for volunteers

Volunteer befrienders come from all walks of life and each has their own reason for wanting to support other people.

We look for volunteer befrienders who are caring, non-judgemental, good listeners, respectful of confidentiality, and supportive of people facing challenges in life.

Volunteer befrienders meet with the person they are supporting either weekly or fortnightly depending on each other’s preference and availability. Most sessions last for 1 - 2 hours. It's a very satisfying role for volunteers and their help makes a big difference to the life of the person receiving social support (and to their carers too).

Volunteers are recruited, selected, trained and supported by our Project Coordinator. For more information please email Debra at the above address.