Increasing befriending provision for older people in Edinburgh

16th July 2015

“Befriending is a relationship between a trained volunteer and an isolated or lonely individual (befriendee), which is initiated, supported and monitored by a voluntary or statutory agency”

Definition of befriending

Befriending Networks

BNs today

230 – 250 member services

All client groupsUK-wide

4 members of staff

BNs: what we do

Services

Resources

BNs: our services

Training

Quality Award:

QiB

Direct member support

Regional and thematic “common ground” meetings

Consultancy

Annual conference

BNs: our resources

E-newsletter

Website

Service paperwork templates

Publications and

research

Meeting and

conference notes

Social media hub

BNs: awareness raising and other stuff

Befriending Week

campaign and website

(November)

Health and Loneliness Roadshow

Parliamentary Exhibitions

“Stitch in Time”

WEMWBS research

EMBEP

Cross-party groups and

parliamentary committees

BNs: the future

Develop online / blended learning

materials

Develop accredited national training for

befrienders

Create common set of evaluation

tools for befriending sector

Befriending is … (yes / no / maybe) 1. Just like friendship

2. A way to provide respite for the befriendee’s carer

3. Focused mainly on building a good relationship between the befriender and the befriendee

4. Giving advice to befriendees about lifestyle and behaviour

Befriending and friendship

Befriending involves creating

and maintaining a personal

relationship, so there are obviously

elements of friendship present

in a befriending relationship.

Befriending and friendshipHowever, there are important

differences. Whilst friendly, it is a professional

relationship governed by

boundaries and carried out in line

with the outcomes of the

supervising organisation.

It’s all about the relationshipThe relationship itself is the main

focus of a befriending

relationship. This is why good

communication skills and an

open, empathic attitude are the most important

characteristics of a befriender.

Giving advice

Befrienders and coordinators of

befriending services often provide useful

information about health and

lifestyle to befriendees if

requested.

Giving adviceHowever, this is very different

from giving advice and it is not part of the

befriender’s role to give advice

about any aspect of lifestyle or

behaviour even if they are an expert in that field in their

professional life.

Befriending is … (yes / no / maybe)

5. Focused on supporting the befriendee to reach certain goals6. The key to solving all the befriendee’s problems

7. Giving help with practical tasks and problems

8. About the befriender as much as about the befriendee

Befriending and goalsBefriending is about the

relationship and the quality of the

time spent together. Many personal goals

may be achieved as a result of the

increased confidence and wellbeing which this relationship

brings …

Befriending and goals… and

befrienders can be instrumental

in supporting befriendees to

resolve practical issues, BUT these are

all essentially a by-product of

the relationship itself.

The scope of befriendingBefriending can have a powerful positive impact on the life of an

isolated or lonely person,

but it is important not

to make promises which are either too

wide or too specific to be realistically

fulfilled.

Befriending and the befrienderIt is essential that the

relationship is right for the

befriender too. Coordinators need to check

in regularly with

befrienders to make sure

they’re happy with how things

are going.

Befriending is … (yes / no / maybe) 9. An informal way of providing counselling or therapy10. Providing a relationship that others in the client’s life can not11. Something a befriendee can turn to in an emergency12. Something which essentially only involves two people – the befriender and the befriendee

Befriending is uniqueBefriending services work

with people who lack meaningful informal social relationships. The essential support they

provide is usually not available to

befriendees in any other form.

Not an emergency serviceBefriending is a long-term,

preventative intervention.

Though befrienders need to be

trained on how to respond should an

emergency arise while they

are with their befriender ….

Not an emergency service

… organisations must make it clear to befriendees and

befrienders alike that befrienders are not there to be called

upon I an emergency.

Models of befriending delivery

Face-to-face:1:1Groups

Distance:TelephoneEmail / letter

Intergenerational Projects:Residential settingBefrienders in groups

Partnership deliveryShared resourcesShared recruitment and referral pathways

Delivery models

The benefits of befriending

Increased confidence and self-esteem

Increased involvement with communities

More able to manage challenges of everyday life

The benefits of befriendingMore cohesive and integrated communities communities

Less pressure on health and social care services

Reductions in rates of crime, homelessness, substance abuse and suicide

The benefits of intergenerational befriendingGreater communication and understanding between young and old

Befrienders learn skills from past they have no other way of learning about. They impart ‘modern’ skills which will be useful to the befriendee

Befriendees enjoy knowing that their skills and knowledge are appreciated. They gain practical knowledge of new skills

Setting up a befriending service

Befriender

Coordinator

Befriendee

Setting up a befriending service

One full-time coordinator

If no other responsibilities, optimum 30 matches

If other responsibilities, optimum 15 – 20 matches

The coordinator’s role

To recruit, select, train and support befrienders

To secure referrals to the service

To match up befrienders and befriendees and to oversee the relationship

Funding: some key considerations

• A budget of at least £40,000 per year to support a full-time coordinator

• At least three years’ funding recommended

• Outcomes must be compatible with long-term befriending relationships

Discussion questions What might be the benefits to your client group of developing an

befriending service?

What do you think would be the main challenges facing your organisation in developing a befriending service? What resources would you need to overcome them?

What three actions could you take in the next month towards the development of a befriending service?

Increasing befriending provision for older people in Edinburgh

www.befriending.co.uk