Befriending news

There is always something happening at COVEY!

We want this page to reflect the variety and diversity of interesting opportunity that is part of the organisation.

Especially welcome will be news of interesting achievements of volunteers and their young people, ideas about where to go on outings and up and coming events. So please e-mail anything that would be of interest.

Befriending Survey

COVEY are engaging in a 'What difference befriending makes' survey in conjunction with Glasgow Caledonian University the results of which will be known later in the year.

Thanks

Thank you to all our befrienders for their support throughout 2009.  We wish everyone a happy 2010.

Also thanks to 'Awards for All' who have provided the funding to help COVEY update their IT systems by means of a server.  This will enable the sharing of information between the two offices and a much faster and more efficient means of communication.

Events:

Pantomine

101 people attended the pantomine in Motherwell on 8 December and enjoyed a good evening's entertainment.  Our special thanks go to the Lightbodys and Befrienders, Elizabeth MacDonald, Karen Brown and Jaqueline Garvin for their generous donations towards the funding for this event. 

Christmas Party

On 16 December 14 young people and their befrienders enjoyed the annual Christmas party in the Harry Smith Complex. Mark from Future Stars kept all amused with various games and activities and it was voted a success. 

Training of new Befrienders 2010

See the Blantyre and Clydesdale pages for local news.

For some ideas and information when planning outings, see our activity information pages.

And to end - a story of success:  

One Young Person's Testamonial

Amanda McMahon

Just over a year ago I was introduced to COVEY and their services through the restorative justice scheme.  At that time I was getting into a lot of trouble at school, with my family and with the police.  I used to hang around the streets, drinking and getting up to all sorts but then in came Nikki who introduced me to my befriender, Jacqueline.  Even the first time Jacqueline took me out I felt comfortable talking to her.  After we got to know each other I felt I could talk openly about almost anything.  It was great to talk to someone whom I could trust 100% and have a giggle with, something I felt I could not do with my family or friends.  During the year we've done loads of things together like ceramic painting, beauty treatments and trips to the pictures. Each time is just as great as the last.  Its a few hours out of the house and away from trouble, where I can have a laugh or two and a talk with Jacqueline about any troubles, which always makes my problems seem smaller and easier to deal with when I go home.  Jacqueline helped me to start thinking more and eventually I started making the right decisions and changing the things I was doing.  Soon after I stopped drinking all my other problems got sorted out.  From then on my life just keeps getting better.

Befriending has made such a positive impact on my life.  Shortly I'll be going back to college for the second year of my vehicle refinishing course.  Without COVEY I would probably have got myself into serious trouble and some bad situations by now and might not have been able to get out of and achieve the things I want to for my life.

Part of my jouney involves Transition Befriending.  Recently Jacqueline and I have been taking a young boy out with us.  It's been going great.  Every week we take him out to a new place and let him try something he might not get the opportunity to do.  It's a great experience and hopefully it will continue.

When I'm old enough I hope to become a befriender with COVEY, to try and help other young people - just like Jacqueline and all the people at COVEY have helped me.  It has made such a difference to me and my life.