Talk to Rochford Life on 0786 342 7294 or E-mail us. For numbers for shops, business etc. see page below.
Make a point of visiting us weekly! Tell a friend about us.
Ann-Marie Fordham
Befriending Coordinator - Rochford area
Ann-mariefordham@castlepointavs.org.uk
Office: 01268 638416
Mobile: 0797 991 4743
Office: 01268 638416
Mobile: 0797 991 4743
Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services have been asked to extend their Befriending Scheme, which has been running successfully in the Castle Point area for the past year, into the Rochford area.
As well as bringing the Scheme to the attention of those who would wish perhaps to receive the help and encouragement of a Befriender, Ann-Marie is looking for volunteers who would like to give a little of their time to become a voluntary Befriender in the Rochford area, by contacting her on one of the ways above.
Referrals onto the Scheme tend to be through the GP surgeries, and via other health professionals who visit people at home, although you may contact the Scheme Coordinator direct.
Over the past year the scheme has matched over 50 people with Befrienders in the Castle Point area and now wish to extend it to the Rochford area.
As well as bringing the Scheme to the attention of those who would wish perhaps to receive the help and encouragement of a Befriender, Ann-
Referrals onto the Scheme tend to be through the GP surgeries, and via other health professionals who visit people at home, although you may contact the Scheme Coordinator direct.
Over the past year the scheme has matched over 50 people with Befrienders in the Castle Point area and now wish to extend it to the Rochford area.
The Befriending Service
The aim of the service is to provide companionship and emotional support to the residents of Castle Point and Rochford, who want and would benefit from it.
The service is available to all ages from 18+ and perhaps you could benefit from a Befriender in some of the following ways:
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Increase your confidence and self esteem
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Have someone to talk to on a regular basis
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Have someone to enjoy activities with
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Have someone to get out and about with
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Help you to become involved with your local community
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Give you confidence and motivation to join new clubs
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Who are the Volunteer Befrienders?
Our Befrienders are people of all ages and from all walks of life that have offered their time on a voluntary basis. They are friendly and understanding people with a wealth of diverse skills and they have been carefully vetted by our organisation.
A Befriender will be paired with you taking into account your interests and hobbies and things that you may like to do during a visit. As soon as a suitable volunteer becomes available, the Befriending Co-ordinator will arrange to bring the volunteer to meet you. This initial meeting is to see if you are likely to get along and are both clear about what you will be doing together, when and how often.
We will do our best to find you the right person. However, if something does not feel right after the first visit or later on, let the Co-ordinator know as soon as possible. If it is not right for you it probably won't be for the volunteer, so we will try again to get it right. Do not worry about offending anyone. Be honest.
Our Befrienders are people of all ages and from all walks of life that have offered their time on a voluntary basis. They are friendly and understanding people with a wealth of diverse skills and they have been carefully vetted by our organisation.
A Befriender will be paired with you taking into account your interests and hobbies and things that you may like to do during a visit. As soon as a suitable volunteer becomes available, the Befriending Co-
We will do our best to find you the right person. However, if something does not feel right after the first visit or later on, let the Co-
The following gives an idea of what may be expected by the individual and the befriender:
What to expect during a visit
You will be able to decide what type of things you would like to do during a visit from a Befriender. You may want to have a chat over a cup of tea, you may want to go out for a walk or you may want to participate in an activity such as gardening or doing a jigsaw puzzle.
The list of things to do is endless but this can be discussed with the Befriender who is going to be visiting you. In some cases you may prefer to meet the Befriender away from your home, for instance, you may want to meet at a local cafe for a coffee; this is ok too.
Please bear in mind that Befrienders are not able to provide any kind of personal care for you nor are they able to do jobs for you such as housework, cooking, handling finances or shopping, although accompanying you to the shops during a visit is fine.
The list of things to do is endless but this can be discussed with the Befriender who is going to be visiting you. In some cases you may prefer to meet the Befriender away from your home, for instance, you may want to meet at a local cafe for a coffee; this is ok too.
Please bear in mind that Befrienders are not able to provide any kind of personal care for you nor are they able to do jobs for you such as housework, cooking, handling finances or shopping, although accompanying you to the shops during a visit is fine.
What happens now
We will meet with you to find out about your needs and interests and complete a form that we will ask you to sign. This will be to allow us to put your personal details on to our database and to share them with the volunteer that you have agreed to have visiting you. We will then maintain regular contact with you during the matching process and the contact from us will continue throughout your visits from a Befriender.
Sometimes things crop up and an arranged visit is unable to go ahead. We would ask both yourself and the Volunteer Befriender to let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel a visit.
If you have any questions at any stage of the service then please contact the Befriending Coordinator on the number at the top of this page
Sometimes things crop up and an arranged visit is unable to go ahead. We would ask both yourself and the Volunteer Befriender to let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel a visit.
If you have any questions at any stage of the service then please contact the Befriending Coordinator on the number at the top of this page
