Home Befriender

Posted for NAB Sight Support for Northamptonshire

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There are 23,000 visually impaired (VI) people in Northamptonshire; loneliness is a common but rarely discussed issue. We are looking for warm, friendly and empathic individuals to visit local VI people who are in need of friendship and are struggling with isolation. Home befriending roles, can be varied from a friendly cuppa and catch up, to going for a walk or a trip to the garden centre. To support and equip our volunteers, we invite all our volunteers to book onto one of our Sight Awareness and Guide Training sessions. The aim of the training is to have a good understanding of what sight loss is like for a VI person, to successfully and confidently guide a VI person, and to be aware of what services NAB has to offer along with the aids and gadgets available that could benefit the VI person. There are people in need of a befriender across the county. We always match volunteers with clients who you will be compatible with and in your locality. Becoming a Home Befriender, can be rewarding and fulfilling, not only for the client but it also has a positive benefit for the volunteer too. Studies have shown that volunteering has a mutual benefit on both client and volunteer; furthermore, studies have shown that 77% of people that volunteer report a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

We welcome you getting in touch!

Skills

Friendly personality, good listener, trustworthy, reliable and empathetic. This role will require two character references, a DBS check and Sight Awareness and Guide Training.

Continued support and guidance from your area Volunteer Coordinators will be offered.

Details

Location

This opportunity is available Countywide.

When do I need to be available?

Start Date: 15/01/2025

End Date: 16/06/2026

Availability Details

Time commitment: once a fortnight at a mutually convenient time for both you and your visually impaired match.