Caring Together Charity
Norfolk Befriending ServiceAbout Caring Together Charity
Caring Together is an ambitious regional charity that provides emotional and practical support, advice and guidance to carers of all ages and their families, as well as opportunities to take a break from their caring role.
Our Norfolk Befriending Service aims to offer an inclusive, trusted service that links volunteers with unpaid carers to help reduce loneliness and social isolation, build confidence, and improve wellbeing. We look to match people who share similar hobbies and interests, enabling both parties to benefit from the service. Any carer looking after someone can be referred if the person seeking befriending is able to manage well day-to-day, is interested in building a relationship with a new person and would benefit from company and conversation.
Please note, the Befriending Service is not a sitting service or replacement for paid care.
Our volunteers cannot assist with mobility, personal care or with administering medication and all referrals will be subject to assessment and evaluation of risk.Our befriending volunteers can offer carers regular companionship and wellbeing support. This could include having a cup of tea and a chat, companionship whilst walking, or support to access local services such as the library or supermarket. Our volunteers can also provide companionship for the person being cared for at home, to help make it easier for the carer to get out into their local community.
Want to know more? If you are an unpaid carer or know someone caring for a family member or friend in Norfolk, our Befriending Service may be able to offer support. If you would like to ask for befriending support for yourself, a family member or friend, or if you are referring someone in a professional capacity, please let us know about the situation: https://www.caringtogether.org support-for-carers-norfolk-befriending-service ask-for-befriending
Caring Together Charity, L D H House, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 4AA
Service Eligibility
Information for Volunteers
Caring Together is an ambitious regional charity that provides emotional and practical support, advice and guidance to carers of all ages and their families, as well as opportunities to take a break from their caring role. Our Norfolk Befriending Service aims to offer an inclusive, trusted service that links volunteers with unpaid carers to help reduce loneliness and social isolation, build confidence, and improve wellbeing.
We look to match people who share similar hobbies and interests, enabling both parties to benefit from the service. Our befriending volunteers offer carers regular companionship and wellbeing support. This could include having a cup of tea and a chat, companionship whilst walking, or support to access local services such as the library or supermarket.
Volunteers may also provide companionship for the person being cared for at home, to help make it easier for the carer to get out into their local community. Our befriending role can be adapted to suit your availability and lifestyle and your commitment can be as much or as little as you choose. Ideally with a minimum commitment of six months. The project is based across Norfolk and volunteers agree to areas within the county they are willing to consider travelling to.
This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of carers and the people they care for, to meet new people, to use and enhance your existing skills and develop new, transferable skills. All volunteers must agree to follow Caring Together’ guidance, policy and procedures, including our onboarding process which includes an Enhanced DBS check.
For more details or to request an application form, please contact Mel Ford, Project Co-ordinator on 07720 343393 or email volunteers@caringtogether.org