Care Leavers Befriending Volunteer

About us:

Advocacy 1st offers a free, independent advocacy service to people who use social or healthcare services. We help people understand their rights and ensure they are included in the decision-making for their care.

About Care Leavers Befriending Volunteers:

Support a care leaver by building a trusting friendship, offering guidance, and helping them navigate independent living.

Befrienders and care leavers are matched based on mutual interests to create positive and successful relationships. This helps care leavers develop life skills and a greater sense of self-worth, building the resilience needed to manage the challenges of adult life.

Support can be either face-to-face, via phone or online, based on what the care leaver prefers. Sessions are every other month on an agreed day and time and last for up to four hours for at least 12 months.

• Build confidence and self-esteem through social interactions and conversation skills
• Help care leavers develop life skills, such as budgeting, cooking and job applications
• Maintain professional boundaries and safeguarding procedures
• Provide visit reports and feedback after meetings

About you:

• You have interpersonal skills and can easily build rapport and identify with care leavers from diverse backgrounds
• You have excellent communication skills and good report writing skills.
• You are willing to commit to your Care Leavers Befriender role for at least 1 year
•  You will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check; we will carry out safer recruitment checks

What will you gain?

• You’ll make a real difference as a positive, stable influence in a young person’s life
• You’ll have fun, create memories and build a meaningful bond
• We’ll give you valuable experience so that you can develop skills in mentoring, communication, and young people’s support
• We’ll give you access to training and job opportunities