ScotsCare

Blether Buddies Befriending Service

Recruiting Volunteers

About ScotsCare

We are a modern 21st century organisation with a 425-year-old history of helping Scots, and their families in and around London. We offer support through grants and help with housing, health, drugs and alcohol, counselling, debt, advocacy and social isolation. We also offer support for homeless and insecurely housed Scots, run regular social events and activities so Scots can come together and enjoy life in London a bit more, and our Blether Buddy befriending service which helps to reduce isolation, loneliness, and improves community engagement. Our services are available to 1st and 2nd generation Scots, their spouses and civil partners, widows and widowers, living or found within 35 miles of Charing Cross in central London.

Bermondsey Street, London, England, SE1 3UW

Service Eligibility

Blether Buddies is open to:

ScotsCare clients aged 60 and over, who feel alone / are socially isolated who can engage in friendly conversation and commit to regular meetings / calls
Our volunteers are not trained to work with clients with unmanaged mental health conditions, drug /alcohol dependencies (support for these clients is available through our Helpline)

Blether Buddy volunteers provide companionship, they cannot provide practical help.

We accept referrals from individuals – please call our helpline or get in touch by email. Agency and family referrals are accepted, please contact us to request a form. New clients will also need to evidence their connection to Scotland, birth and marriage certificates and passports are all accepted.

Information for Volunteers

Could you connect with our older clients in London? Your regular meetings could be something that you both look forward to. “This is an easy, very meaningful way to help someone and is immensely rewarding and fun!” – Michael (ScotsCare Volunteer)

We provide:

training and support
expenses for travel and refreshments
a rewarding and enjoyable activity
a very warm welcome!

You will need:

Good communication skills, for conversation / listening
To be friendly, non-judgemental, honest & reliable
Empathy
An understanding of the need to follow policies and procedures (covered in training)
An enhanced DBS check (which we process), two references.

Contact Louise.davies@scotscare.com or visit Befriending | Scotscare for more information and to apply.

ScotsCare, 183 – 185 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UW. 0207 240 3718

More Information

Age Groups

Older Adults (65+)

Themes

Older People

Regions

Country: England

Other Regions: Greater London

Other Information

Type of Befriending: Distance befriending including telephone, video call, letter writing or other means, Face to face befriending which takes place in the home or community

Who can refer: Self Referrals Accepted, Friends & Family Referrals Accepted, Professional Referrals Accepted