Core Skills in Befriending for Volunteers

“The modules have taught me all the ins and outs to becoming a good befriender in the community. They have given me vital information and guidelines to stick to.”

—Volunteer with Ben View Resource Centre

“This course will assist me in my befriending role by providing the necessary information needed for a positive and successful befriender and befriendee relationship.”

—Volunteer with Redbridge Befriending Service

About the Course

Core Skills in Befriending for Volunteers is an online training course that provides befrienders with fundamental knowledge and should be used alongside organisation-specific volunteer training. The course is made up of 10 modules:

Module 1 - What is Befriending?
Module 2 - Values and Attitudes in Befriending
Module 3 - Communication Skills
Module 4 - Building Befriending Relationships
Module 5 - The Matching Process
Module 6 - Boundaries and Confidentiality
Module 7 - Support and Supervision
Module 8 - Roles and Responsibilities within Befriending
Module 9 - Managing Endings
Module 10 - Befrienders as Community Connectors

While Befriending Networks provides the information via the learning platform, coordinators/volunteer managers are responsible for tracking their volunteers' progress through the course and giving them feedback online or in contact session. Guidance for coordinators about how to access and use the online learning platform be found here.

Some coordinators choose to have volunteers complete specific modules, while others require volunteers to complete all 10 to receive a certificate from Befriending Networks.

Cost

Core Skills in Befriending for Volunteers is only available Befriending Networks members and is a free resource. Each month, 10 member organisations may register places for up to 5 volunteers.