Wednesday March 10, 2010Befriending

Foresight has been delivering services to the blind/visually impaired community of North East Lincolnshire since 1999. January 2005 saw the launch of an innovative new partnership forming between Foresight, Carelink, Havelok Homes and North East Lincolnshire Council.

Foresight’s role in this partnership is to deliver the “Eye Need a Friend” Befriending Service to blind/visually impaired people initially over the age of 65 who are residents of North East Lincolnshire. The overall aim of this project is to help the elderly person live at home longer, due to the success of this project we now deliver to blind/visually impaired people over the age of 18. To assist with this scheme Foresight has a bank of volunteers who are recruited specifically for this project offering assistance with shopping, reading mail, help and support with centre activities and general companionship.

An initial assessment is carried out to identify and establish the needs and requirements of client to volunteer, looking at similar interests enabling both client and volunteer to be matched, building upon companionship.

Volunteer befrienders offer support to people who would otherwise be socially isolated, often providing people with a new direction in life, leading to increased self-esteem and confidence, enhancing individual quality of life.

The uniqueness of this project has seen the rise in success enabling this service to enter its third year of delivery.

This lady is Foresight’s first befriending client. The service has proved to be paramount in giving her a better quality of life. Great friendships have formed with volunteers taking clients out on Christmas day for lunch and inclusion on family holidays! This is great evidence the service goes that extra mile providing added value for members.

Everyone needs someone but not everyone has someone. Befriending provides companionship for isolated people, the chance to develop a new relationship and opportunities to participate in social activities. For people who become, isolated due to ill health, disability or social disadvantage, being matched with a befriender often fills the gap. Befriending provides welcome support for some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

To support all volunteer befrienders, Foresight offers a wide range of training that is specific in delivering these services. This training includes Visual Impairment Awareness, First Aid, Health & Safety, Lone Working and risk assessment training. All courses are free and certificates are issued on completion of course.

These are a few quotes I have received from the befriending clients:

“I feel I have known my volunteer all my life-we never stop”

“I am very grateful for the service and get on extremely well with my volunteer.”

“My volunteer makes me feel as though she always has time for me.”

“I have made lots of new friends and expanded my social activities by coming into the centre to access activities.”

Foresight also offers placements to students from Franklin College, Grimsby Institute, Hull and Lincoln Universities who are training to become Social Workers, ensuring a high level of support is offered throughout. All students are given the opportunity to become involved in centre activities, befriending service users, risk assessments, recruiting volunteers, chairing meetings, supporting individuals/groups, networking, reviewing and updating information etc. working towards fulfilling the completion of key roles. Ensuring legislation is followed i.e. Disability Discrimination Act (1995).