Befriending Week – 1-7 November 2024 – click here for more information.

VASL – Harriet: #BefriendingIs giving a bit of time to make a difference in our community!

VASL is a local charity based in Market Harborough, providing services and projects to improve the lives of people in our community. These include support for family carers, young carers, older people who are lonely and isolated, providing volunteer transport to get people out and about, and activities and information to increase mental well-being. We are a volunteer-involving organisation and most of our work is delivered by trained volunteers.

 

Let’s hear from VASL’s Harriet on her views on what #BefriendingIs!

 

 

When did you last make a new friend?

It gets harder as we get older and we can no longer throw a couple of jumpers on the ground for goalposts, or we stop jumping in puddles at the park.  The school gates, dog walks, workplaces all offer opportunities to meet new people, but it isn’t easy for everyone.

‘Befriending’ is a clumsy word, but it describes a relationship which is created to improve someone’s life, but often it leads to benefits for them both.

Here at VASL we have three projects based on befriending.  For carers it can be difficult to find time to make friends, you may have to be with the person you care for a lot of the time, thinking about their needs.  If you are feeling low, it can be hard to confide in your friends particularly if they all seem to have perfect lives, but you really could do with some help to move on from someone who won’t judge you.  Maybe you are an older person, and you really miss those friends who shared so many years of your life and you would like a good chat.

A regular phone call has been invaluable this last year, someone that you can talk to honestly, who will listen to your grumbles and help you to put things in perspective. 

When people first volunteer with VASL they are thinking about what they can offer, but almost always they come to realise how much they gain themselves.  Befriending appeals to people because they know what is expected, you won’t end up repairing someone’s roof or taking calls from them at 2am!

We belong to the Leicestershire Befriending Network which is a group of people who run befriending schemes across the county.  One funded by McMillan supports people undergoing treatment for cancer, Age UK provides phone calls for older people across the county, RVS has volunteers who support people short term when they leave hospital, there are a couple of neighbourhood projects which support lonely people in their locality including young parents.  Although we target different people, we are all very similar in that we want to reduce loneliness for people and ensure our volunteers are well prepared and supported through their time with the projects.

So, is it time you made some new friends? Volunteering is a great way to meet people and you’ll be making a positive difference.

If you would like to know more about Support for Carers, the Wellbeing Befriending Service or Community Champions, get in touch with VASL on 01858 433232 or look at our website www.vasl.org.uk.

By: VASL

If you’re inspired and would like to get involved please visit: 

https://vasl.org.uk/services/wellbeing-befriending-service/

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