Befrienders required for our Chatterbox telephone service to help tackle loneliness across the UK - No experience needed

Chatterbox Befrienders offer one-to-one telephone support and will call a client once a week offering companionship and a listening ear for an individual who might otherwise go unheard. Chatterbox volunteers befriend a variety of people including carers, socially isolated individuals who are struggling with loneliness, people with ill health and those that have been bereaved.

This role could be for you, if you:

·       Would like to make a real difference in someone’s life

·       Want to challenge loneliness and can commit to a weekly phone call

·       Are a good listener

·       Are empathetic, patient and of a caring nature

·       Have good verbal and inter-personal communication skills

·       Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can uphold this in practice

·       Are committed to inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect

Benefits of this role may include: 

·       Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life

·       Joining the Omega Team who are taking action against loneliness and isolation

·       An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills

·       An opportunity to engage with your community

About Omega... Ending Isolation | Ending Loneliness

At Omega, our goal is to reduce social isolation and loneliness across Shropshire and the rest of the UK. Although Omega was founded as a specialist end of life care charity in 2007, our work has gradually refocused over the years, to reflect the needs of our clients. We discovered that while not all of them are dealing with end-of-life issues, the one thing that unites them is a daily struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness, therefore opening our services to anyone aged 18 or over and living within the UK.

By supporting lonely and socially isolated people within our society, we at Omega aim to help our clients build resilience and extend their independence through befriending, information sharing, self-help, and peer support. This is done by offering a variety of services including Chatterbox, a free telephone befriending service and Letterbox, a free pen pal befriending service, both of which aim to help connect people and help put an end to the isolation epidemic.

Looking at Chatterbox specifically, the befrienders offer one-to-one telephone support and will call a client once a week offering companionship and a listening ear for an individual who might otherwise go unheard. Chatterbox volunteers befriend a variety of people including carers, socially isolated individuals who are struggling with loneliness, people with ill health and those that have been bereaved.

Our clients are carefully matched to DBS-checked volunteer befrienders, with whom they exchange supportive, friendly phone calls. They chat about their lives, families, and interests and only asks for up to an hour of the participants time every week for 6 months, equating to about 24 hours of volunteering time.

We are excited to share this opportunity to make a meaningful impact within our organisation. We’re looking for passionate volunteers to join us in creating a safer space with our chatterbox service.

What skills do I need?

Support and Training Provided: 

·       Omega Chatterbox induction program

·       Safeguarding training

·       Ongoing support from Chatterbox Coordinators for all questions, concerns, and support

·       Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed and a mobile phone can be provided if appropriate

·       Monthly Befriender group support meetings via the Zoom app

 Requirements of a befriender include:

·       Calling your client once a week for a chat of up to 45 minutes; this is a 26 week initial commitment, at the end of which each client’s needs are reviewed

·       Completing an online call log record promptly after each phone call

·       Ensuring immediate contact with the Chatterbox Coordinators if you feel that the client might be a risk to themselves or others

·       Liaising with the Chatterbox Coordinator on a regular basis regarding the service, as well as discussing personal learning and development needs

·       Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the range of policies and procedures that impact on befriending vulnerable adults

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

We are always in need of volunteers as our waiting list is continuing to grow of clients who need support. When you are matched with a client, those times that you will be calling will be set up between yourself and the client via Chatterbox. We will help facilitate this.

Where does this role take place?