Space @ the Broomhouse Hub
Space Youth Befriending Service
About Space @ the Broomhouse Hub
We Provide a befriending service for children and young people aged 5–16 across Edinburgh who are affected by Parental Alcohol, Drug or Gambling harms. The service offers one-to-one support for up to 12 months, helping young people build confidence, resilience, and self-esteem whilst lowering feelings of social anxiety as they explore new interests, experiences and activities. Each young person is matched with a volunteer befriender who meets with them weekly for up to four hours (including travel). When with their Befriender, young people are encouraged to develop social skills, enabling them to grow at a pace that their comfortable with. When ready our Befrienders’ support young people to engage with others through seasonal group activities and are encouraged to attend local, age-appropriate groups and clubs, further cementing their feelings of belonging within their communities.
Scotland, EH11 3RH
Service Eligibility
Our Befriending service offers 1-1 support to young people in Edinburgh, aged between 5 – 16-year-old who have been affected by current or historical Parental Substance or Gambling harms. All Befriender matches are supported and by a Youth Project Worker who collaborates closely with you, ensuring that each young person’s agreed needs are fully met. Volunteers undergo a rigorous informal recruitment process, relevant training, along with ongoing support to ensure that the relationships formed are safe, consistent and meaningful.
Befriending helps reduce isolation and loneliness and strengthens emotional and physical well-being which fosters a greater sense of self-worth and belonging. Invites to attend online or in person agency team meetings to discuss our service are encouraged and welcome.
To make a referral, please email youthbefriending@spacescot.org for a referral pack.
Information for Volunteers
Space for Youth Befriending asks volunteers to commit up to 4 hours per week (including travel), for 12 months on completion of our Youth Befriending Training sessions. Volunteers are encouraged to attend regular online or face to face support and supervision sessions and quarterly group activities. Volunteers can build on their existing skills by attending free training sessions.
If you are considering Volunteering and wish to offer your kindness, life skills, experience and be a positive role model by befriending one of our young people, we are waiting to hear from you! If you have historical ‘lived experience’ of being affected by Parental Substance, use or experience of the harms that Gambling causes please contact us. The time you give and share with a young person is valued and appreciated by us all and may be viewed as the greatest gift you can ever offer a young person.
More InformationAge Groups
Children (0-18)Themes
Drugs/Alcohol, Children and Young PeopleRegions
Country: Scotland
Scottish Regions: Lothian
Other Information
Type of Befriending: 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