Volunteer Hub
Befrienders needed to tackle loneliness
Organisation Details
Omega...Ending Isolation, Ending Loneliness
Sub theme: Disability, Mental Health, Older people
Stellify Award: This opportunity is part of 'Make a Difference'
Organisation Description: 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, this is a free telephone befriending service for socially isolated, acutely lonely people, and for people who provide caring support to others. 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. This is a great opportunity to add to CV and/or engage with the community that you are growing into. Some people may use the service to help themselves engage beyond their fellow students and aid other possibly lonely individuals.
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.
For more information please visit our website: Omega... Ending Isolation | Ending Loneliness
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, this is a free telephone befriending service for socially isolated, acutely lonely people, and for people who provide caring support to others. 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. This is a great opportunity to add to CV and/or engage with the community that you are growing into. Some people may use the service to help themselves engage beyond their fellow students and aid other possibly lonely individuals.
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.
For more information please visit our website: Omega... Ending Isolation | Ending Loneliness
Description of role: Chatterbox is an award-winning enhanced telephone befriending programme aimed at people who are socially isolated and struggling with loneliness. Clients may have a range of complex needs including poor physical or mental health, bereavement, are caring for a family member with an illness. Chatterbox Befrienders offer one-to-one telephone support by calling a client once a week for a friendly chat and to offer a listening ear. Chatterbox befrienders are all ages, from all walks of life, and are located across the UK.
This role could be for you, if you:
- Would like to make a real difference to 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 interpersonal communication skills
- Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can uphold this in practice
-Are committed to inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect.
Requirements of the role:
- Calling your client once a week for a chat for around 30 minutes; this is initially a 26-week commitment, at the end of which each client’s needs are reviewed by the Chatterbox Co-ordinator
- Completing an online call log after each phone call
- Contacting the Chatterbox Co-ordinator immediately if you feel that the client might be a risk to themselves or others
- A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for this role. If you have a criminal record this does not automatically prevent you from being considered as a Chatterbox Befriender. We will take into account the nature of the offence, when it happened and whether it is relevant to the role. If you are shortlisted, this will be discussed during the recruitment process.
Support and training provided:
- Omega Chatterbox induction programme
- Online Safeguarding training
- Ongoing support from Chatterbox Coordinators for all questions, concerns, and support
- Out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed
- Monthly Befriender Group Support meetings via Zoom
Benefits of this role include:
- Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life
- Giving something back and feeling valued for your contributions
- Joining a friendly team and making new friends
- Gaining new skills and/or enhancing your CV
- Improving your well-being, confidence, and self-esteem
Location of the role: Home-based.
This role could be for you, if you:
- Would like to make a real difference to 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 interpersonal communication skills
- Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can uphold this in practice
-Are committed to inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect.
Requirements of the role:
- Calling your client once a week for a chat for around 30 minutes; this is initially a 26-week commitment, at the end of which each client’s needs are reviewed by the Chatterbox Co-ordinator
- Completing an online call log after each phone call
- Contacting the Chatterbox Co-ordinator immediately if you feel that the client might be a risk to themselves or others
- A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for this role. If you have a criminal record this does not automatically prevent you from being considered as a Chatterbox Befriender. We will take into account the nature of the offence, when it happened and whether it is relevant to the role. If you are shortlisted, this will be discussed during the recruitment process.
Support and training provided:
- Omega Chatterbox induction programme
- Online Safeguarding training
- Ongoing support from Chatterbox Coordinators for all questions, concerns, and support
- Out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed
- Monthly Befriender Group Support meetings via Zoom
Benefits of this role include:
- Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life
- Giving something back and feeling valued for your contributions
- Joining a friendly team and making new friends
- Gaining new skills and/or enhancing your CV
- Improving your well-being, confidence, and self-esteem
Location of the role: Home-based.
Skills / qualities associated with the role: Administration, Oral Communication Skills
Are volunteer expenses available?: Yes
Duration of role: Ongoing / Long term
Opportunity times: Monday Morning, Monday Afternoon, Monday Evening, Tuesday Morning, Tuesday Afternoon, Tuesday Evening, Wednesday Morning, Wednesday Afternoon, Wednesday Evening, Thursday Morning, Thursday Afternoon, Thursday Evening, Friday Morning, Friday Afternoon, Friday Evening, Saturday Morning, Saturday Afternoon, Saturday Evening, Sunday Morning, Sunday Afternoon, Sunday Evening
DBS required: On
Can reasonable adjustments be made regarding additional needs?: Yes
Is this organisation part of the Sports Volunteering Scheme (SVS)?: No
Minimum hours commitment: 30
Location:
Omega... Ending Isolation | Ending Loneliness, Town Walls
Shrewsbury
SY1 1TX