East of England
Mentoring and Befriending in your region
Mentoring and Befriending activity in the Eastern Region is vibrant and the sector is growing fast. The range of projects reflects the wide variety of communities found in the region, from schemes dealing with the problems of inner city communities to those focusing on the challenges of dealing with social exclusion in isolated rural communities. It is these communities in particular that the Foundation aims to reach through its work with charities and voluntary sector bodies.
At present we work with over 1070 mentoring and befriending projects and organisations in the region. To date, 173 of these had taken part in our registration process. 48% of the projects consulted with were befriending, 31% mentoring and 21% peer mentoring (both pre and post 16). Most of these projects were in the non-profit sector with the majority being run by voluntary organisations and charities. The most popular client group that these projects work with are people with low confidence / self esteem and those who are socially isolated / excluded or lonely.
The Eastern Region has many examples of good practice in Mentoring and Befriending, including:
The New Routes Integration Project has been working with asylum seekers and refugees in Norwich since 2005. Our Mentoring Project, partnering young asylum seekers and refugees aged 14-22 with local young people, has been running for two years and was recently awarded the Approved Provider Standard accreditation by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation. We are the only MBF accredited organisation working with this age/client group in the Eastern region and are looking into the possibility of seeking funding to extend the project to work with adult refugees seeking mainstream employment.
We aim to increase the support structures for young refugees and asylum seekers to improve confidence in their educational and social goals, and aid integration through cross-cultural understanding and friendship. Educational confidence and achievement is raised through regular, one-to-one support, while young people also engage in activities together at our weekly international youth club. Partnerships with other local youth service providers further widen integration and learning opportunities.
For more information, please contact Dee Robinson (01603 632816; Mob: 07799 661009 or e-mail newroutes@tiscali.co.uk )
Visit New Routes website here
The Norfolk and Norwich Families House – Volunteer Befriending Service, set up in 1994. We are a registered charity and the Volunteer Befriending service is a well-established scheme where we train and place volunteers to befriend families that are undergoing periods of stress. Families may have difficulties due to bereavement, separation, mental and physical illness or disruptive child behaviour, all of which makes family life even more challenging.
Volunteers work with families over time to help them learn to deal and cope with issues by providing support, advice and signposting. Volunteers are selected for their personal skills and attributes that make them a unique, sensitive, non judgemental yet effective method of support. Although an independent body we often work alongside the statutory and local authority agencies as part of a multi- agency team. The Volunteer Befriending Service was awarded the Approved Provider Standard in April 2009.
To find out more about our service please call 01603 621702, e-mail us at admin@familieshouse.org.uk or visit our website here
At present we work with over 1070 mentoring and befriending projects and organisations in the region. To date, 173 of these had taken part in our registration process. 48% of the projects consulted with were befriending, 31% mentoring and 21% peer mentoring (both pre and post 16). Most of these projects were in the non-profit sector with the majority being run by voluntary organisations and charities. The most popular client group that these projects work with are people with low confidence / self esteem and those who are socially isolated / excluded or lonely.
The Eastern Region has many examples of good practice in Mentoring and Befriending, including:
The New Routes Integration Project has been working with asylum seekers and refugees in Norwich since 2005. Our Mentoring Project, partnering young asylum seekers and refugees aged 14-22 with local young people, has been running for two years and was recently awarded the Approved Provider Standard accreditation by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation. We are the only MBF accredited organisation working with this age/client group in the Eastern region and are looking into the possibility of seeking funding to extend the project to work with adult refugees seeking mainstream employment.
We aim to increase the support structures for young refugees and asylum seekers to improve confidence in their educational and social goals, and aid integration through cross-cultural understanding and friendship. Educational confidence and achievement is raised through regular, one-to-one support, while young people also engage in activities together at our weekly international youth club. Partnerships with other local youth service providers further widen integration and learning opportunities.
For more information, please contact Dee Robinson (01603 632816; Mob: 07799 661009 or e-mail newroutes@tiscali.co.uk )
Visit New Routes website here
The Norfolk and Norwich Families House – Volunteer Befriending Service, set up in 1994. We are a registered charity and the Volunteer Befriending service is a well-established scheme where we train and place volunteers to befriend families that are undergoing periods of stress. Families may have difficulties due to bereavement, separation, mental and physical illness or disruptive child behaviour, all of which makes family life even more challenging.
Volunteers work with families over time to help them learn to deal and cope with issues by providing support, advice and signposting. Volunteers are selected for their personal skills and attributes that make them a unique, sensitive, non judgemental yet effective method of support. Although an independent body we often work alongside the statutory and local authority agencies as part of a multi- agency team. The Volunteer Befriending Service was awarded the Approved Provider Standard in April 2009.
To find out more about our service please call 01603 621702, e-mail us at admin@familieshouse.org.uk or visit our website here
We have representatives in all of the nine government regions throughout England, making a direct impact up on the communities that you live in. They can help you with a number of things; either setting up a project, developing an existing programme or acheiving Approved Provider Status (APS).
Contact your Regional Co-ordinator
