COVEY Befriending (Community Volunteers Enabling Youth)

Become a Befriender

Within COVEY there are a variety of volunteering opportunities available to people who want to make a difference in the lives of young people living in Lanarkshire. These include one to one and group befriending, supporting with Xp& activities and school befriending. For full information on the variety of supports we offer see our what we provide page.

All volunteers are recruited, trained and supported by COVEY Befriending Coordinators. Befrienders establish a relationship with a young person giving them the experience of having a supportive and encouraging adult to relate to. Young person are given a chance to have some fun and participate in activities which they would not normally have the opportunity to enjoy.

The role of the volunteer with COVEY is not one of parent, social worker or teacher and being that of a volunteer, brings a non-official quality to the relationship which can benefit the young person greatly.

Prospective volunteers need to be over 18 and preferably have their own transport. In the Clydesdale area, own transport is essential.

What are the qualities Covey looks for in a befriender?

A befriender:

has time available for regular meetings
is reliable and organised
has a sense of fun
has ability to build rapport with young people
treats young people with respect
has elastic patience
is flexible

What is the process of becoming a befriender?

Anyone interested in becoming a befriender embarks on an assessment process. After an initial conversation indicating their interest, prospective befrienders receive additional information and then a home visit by a Befriending Coordinator who gives a fuller picture of befriending, what it involves and what COVEY offers volunteers in the way of training, expenses and support.

When an application form is completed and returned to COVEY, references are taken up, a Disclosure Scotland criminal record search carried out and a doctors report obtained.

Prospective befrienders are then interviewed by a Befriending Coordinator and Project Leader, and if successful, invited to training.

What is involved in the training?

Training takes place over six evenings and covers the following:

roles and responsibilities of a befriender
the context of befriending / Families and young people
boundaries
challenging discrimination / Handling conflict
the pairing process
endings

Potential volunteers are expected to attend all training sessions.

What commitment is expected?

After training, volunteers agree:

to commit a regular block of time to a young person over a period of at least six months
to plan, with COVEY and the young person, an interesting programme of activities, outings and pastimes in order to facilitate a relationship
to attend regular befriending reviews
to respect the need for confidentiality
to accept and remain within the COVEY guidelines regarding policy and procedures
to be sensitive to the needs of the young person and to adopt a flexible approach to working with the young person

COVEY volunteers receive all out of pocket expenses and ongoing support and supervision. There is opportunity for additional training which befrienders are encouraged to attend.

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