Befriending and Volunteering

The befriending service at Mind in Bexley is well established and has been running successfully for several years matching volunteers with mental health service users who are in residential care.

What it provides in terms of life enhancement for those people is immeasurable.

Having a befriender is an enormous boost to people’s self esteem and sense of self worth giving them the opportunity to experience a different kind of relationship set apart from those they have with staff or other residents.

For some residents this may be the only external relationship that they have, as unfortunately many people in residential care are isolated and do not have the support of a network of family and friends, so it becomes extremely important to them.

Even those who are fortunate in retaining family links find the befriending relationship a very special one that values them as an individual and an equal.

All befriending Volunteers undergo special training before they meet with the person that they may befriend so that the befriendee can decide if they want to continue to be matched with the befriender.

The relationships vary a great deal and are very unique to each relationship, all are different but all are informed by each relationships common points of interest, they may begin as arranged relationships but they soon begin to grow and develop naturally offering both the befriendee and the befriender a rich and rewarding experience.

For more information about becoming a befriending volunteer at Mind in Bexley see the Volunteering section of this website.