MBF responses to Government documents and sector reports
Shaping the Future of Care Together – The Big Care Debate consultation – November 2009
MBF responded to the Green Paper proposals for reforming the current care and support system with a strong recommendation for the expansion of mentoring and befriending services as an integral part of the new National Care Service.
We want to thank all the projects who gave us their views which we incorporated into our response
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We want to thank all the projects who gave us their views which we incorporated into our response
Read the full response
New Horizons: Towards a shared vision for mental health consultation – October 2009
MBF’s response highlights research evidence and case studies to promote mentoring and befriending as integral elements within the package of support for improving the mental health of individuals.
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Read the full Response
Building a society for all ages consultation - October 2009
MBF recommends more government investment in, and piloting of, a range of mentoring and befriending interventions to form a key part of the solution towards ensuring that older people and their carers are fully supported into the future.
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Read the full response
Call for Evidence around ‘The Role of Third Sector Innovation: Personalisation of Health and Social Care and Services to Reduce Crime and Re-offending’ (by Rt. Hon. Anne McGuire MP, Cabinet Officer Advisor on Third Sector Innovation) - September 2009
MBF’s submission to this call for evidence stresses how one-to-one mentoring and befriending interventions are unique examples of highly personalised forms of individual support and are well placed to support the main goals of the personalisation agenda. The response also raises a number of issues and concerns that mentoring and befriending projects have highlighted to us.
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Read the full response
MBF's response to St Mungos Call 4 Evidence: Mental health and street homelessness - June 2009
MBF responded to St Mungo's national consultation with case studies of best practice of how mentoring and peer mentoring schemes have been used as added support mechanisms for homeless people and people with mental health issues
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Read the full response
Big Lottery Fund: Big Thinking consultation - February 2009
MBF responded to this public consultation on future priorities for Big Lottery (BIG) good causes funding to help shape its priorities for 2009-2015.
We welcomed the suggested themes of 'transitions' and 'isolation' as useful starting points for current funding along with 'widening participation', and believe that the minimum guarantee of 60-70% funding for the voluntary and community sector should continue. Our views on how BIG could build lasting partnerships and networking within the mentoring and befriending community and best meet their funding needs were also included.
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We welcomed the suggested themes of 'transitions' and 'isolation' as useful starting points for current funding along with 'widening participation', and believe that the minimum guarantee of 60-70% funding for the voluntary and community sector should continue. Our views on how BIG could build lasting partnerships and networking within the mentoring and befriending community and best meet their funding needs were also included.
Read the full response
MBF’s response to 21st Century Schools: A World-Class Education for Every Child - February 2009
In response to the DCSF consultation, the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation would like to express its fullest support to the overall vision of a 21st century school system.
As part of the commitment to ensure all young people get the best possible start to life, MBF believes that it is important that 21st century schools become the hub of communities therefore providing easy access to a range of services for children, young people and families.
MBF believes that peer mentoring and mentoring can play an important role in this, in supporting young people to break down certain barriers and providing them with many opportunities to help them strive for a better future.
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As part of the commitment to ensure all young people get the best possible start to life, MBF believes that it is important that 21st century schools become the hub of communities therefore providing easy access to a range of services for children, young people and families.
MBF believes that peer mentoring and mentoring can play an important role in this, in supporting young people to break down certain barriers and providing them with many opportunities to help them strive for a better future.
Read the full response
Introduction of indicators of a school's contribution to well being - MBF response - Janaury 2009
In response to the consultation, the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation would like to express its fullest support for the introduction of indicators to assess the issues pupils face and evaluate the schools contribution to promoting pupil well-being. MBF would like to highlight peer mentoring as a vehicle to support schools in achieving and sustaining a healthy school.
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Read the full response
Call for evidence – models of effective and innovative service delivery to older people in rural areas - January 2009
MBF suggests volunteer befriending as a component of a low level support strategy to improve participation in social and community activities, increase independence and improve health and well being for older people living in rural areas.
Different models of befriending can be applied to older people in rural areas including home visits, telephone support and activities outside the home. Volunteers can go into the home to share conversation or accompany older people on shopping trips. Group activities can include lunch clubs or visits to the seaside. A combination of activities can ensure that older people engage socially on several levels and make the most of networks that exist.
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Different models of befriending can be applied to older people in rural areas including home visits, telephone support and activities outside the home. Volunteers can go into the home to share conversation or accompany older people on shopping trips. Group activities can include lunch clubs or visits to the seaside. A combination of activities can ensure that older people engage socially on several levels and make the most of networks that exist.
Read the full response
Transforming the quality of dementia care: Consultation on a national dementia strategy - September 2008
MBF welcomes the introduction of better home care services to meet the needs of people with dementia and their carers and suggests volunteer befriending as a component of a low level personalised support strategy. MBF consulted a range of befriending practitioners who run schemes for people with dementia and their carers; their views have been incorporated as part of this response.
Read the full response
Read the full response
Baroness Neuberger’s request for feedback and views on volunteering in the criminal justice system - September 2008
Thousands of volunteers work locally to support offender management in prison, through the gate and in the community. The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation has identified that a substantial number of these volunteers will be providing support as mentors or befrienders to offenders in custody and on release as well as to young people at risk of offending.
It is our view that significant investment in volunteer-based mentoring and befriending within the criminal justice system can add value to society, whether it is helping to reduce re-offending or preventing young people from engaging in crime.
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It is our view that significant investment in volunteer-based mentoring and befriending within the criminal justice system can add value to society, whether it is helping to reduce re-offending or preventing young people from engaging in crime.
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Final report of the Lord Goldsmith QC Citizenship Review: 'Citizenship: Our Common Bond' - August 2008
integration by young people, employees and new migrants. Detailed comments on report sections can be found in the full response.
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Communities in control: Real people, real power - July 2008
Voluntary mentoring and befriending is cited within the report as a means to enabling citizens to become more active, emphasizing that strong and supportive one to one relationships are at the centre of every successful community.
Peter Collins, Chief Executive of MBF said:
“We welcome the commitment to extending mentoring and befriending to support citizens to become more active or volunteer. I look forward to working with the DCLG and the Prime Minister’s Council on Social Action to develop this work further”.
Read the full response and learn how to get involved
Peter Collins, Chief Executive of MBF said:
“We welcome the commitment to extending mentoring and befriending to support citizens to become more active or volunteer. I look forward to working with the DCLG and the Prime Minister’s Council on Social Action to develop this work further”.
Read the full response and learn how to get involved
Volunteering in Public Services: Health and Social care – March 2008
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Defra – Towards a Third Sector Strategy – February 2008
In its response to the consultation MBF pointed out that mentoring and befriending have important parts to play in developing sustainable communities, supporting rural life and protecting the environment.
Sourcing information and opinion from a number of projects active in rural communities, MBF argued that robust befriending programmes help to keep rural communities alive whilst formal volunteering programmes help to engage people, of all ages, in their communities.
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Sourcing information and opinion from a number of projects active in rural communities, MBF argued that robust befriending programmes help to keep rural communities alive whilst formal volunteering programmes help to engage people, of all ages, in their communities.
Read the full response
Education and Skills Bill – January 2008
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REACH Report – August 2007
The MBF warned though that programmes developed must be underpinned by quality standards of provision and be given sufficient funding if they are to make a real difference.
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