Inspiring Communities

Volunteers Befriending project has been set up
by Inspiring Communities, to support people in the community who
experience difficulties.

Inspiring Communities are an award winning community regeneration project delivering in priority areas in Stirling. They provide employability, learning, volunteering, digital and environmental activities alongside services designed to tackle social isolation and loneliness.

The Volunteers Befriending project specifically works with individuals who may feel socially isolated and lonely or need facilitative support with active citizenship.

It provides practical and social support on a one to one basis tailored to meet individual needs
Aim:
• To improve the social and mental wellbeing of people in their own environments, through tailored ‘purposeful friendship’ interactions.

Objectives:
• Reduce isolation and loneliness
• Encourage access to community services
• Increase capacity to cope with problems of daily living – resilience?
• Meet a variety of other client led objectives.

Information for volunteers

An offer of confidence building services, digitally, by telephone and face to face to ensure we provide support across priority areas in Stirling regardless of mobility, financial situation, and geography. We need to ensure that the referral routes within are clear and widely known

Telephone, digital and in person information and discussion sessions providing peer support for socially isolated and lonely people. Providing participants a safe space and opportunity to discuss their situation. Participants also receive signposting information to enable them to access help and support. Participants are encouraged to be Active Citizens.

The Volunteer Befriending Project will be working with Self-Referrals and Referrals from supporting services. Anyone may refer themselves or people they know or their clients.

Volunteer befriender is a service which provides support from Volunteer, who establish a rewarding and trusting relationship. Where possible we match on
the basis of shared similar experiences and backgrounds. Hobbies and interests are also important factors involved in matching, in order to aid the formation of trust in the developing relationship.