East Midlands
Mentoring and Befriending in your Region
Mentoring and Befriending in your Region
Mentoring and Befriending activity in East Midlands is rapidly growing. The 4th largest region in England is made up of a diverse mix of cultures and populations. The Foundation aims to work with all communities through charities and voluntary sector bodies.
At present we work with 1,282 mentoring and befriending projects and organisations in the region. Currently 256 of these have taken part in our registration process. Twenty seven percent of the projects consulted with were befriending and buddying; 36% were mentoring; 25% were 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 those with low self esteem and those who are socially isolated, excluded or lonely.
East Midlands has many examples of good practice in Mentoring and Befriending including:
Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL) Carers Telephone Befriending Service was set up in 2007 by Diane Claridge as part of the VASL Carers Project and achieved the MBF Approved Provider Standard in 2009.
The project currently has 5 volunteer befrienders making weekly or fortnightly calls from The Settling Rooms, Market Harborough to carers in the area. The calls give carers the opportunity to talk to someone in confidence outside the family. Some of the volunteers are ex-carers themselves so understand the problems and issues, but they can refer to the Carers Development Worker (Jacqui Mowson) if more practical advice or information is needed.
Project co-ordinator Diane Claridge commented that carers who have been using the service have said how much it has helped to have someone there to talk to, share a laugh and have a friendly chat and that it can also help to reduce the social isolation faced by many of the carers.
For further information about the service, contact Diane Claridge on 01858 432014.
StartaFresh is based within Christ Church in Stamford, Lincolnshire and in 2009 was awarded the Approved Provider Standard for their mentoring and befriending project. The project works with a wide range of clients referred from agencies including the jobcentre, Primary Care Team and local service providers and provides both one to one mentoring and group befriending with the support of 13 volunteers.
Co-ordinator Katie Blaye explained that volunteer mentors work with clients, many of whom have mental health issues, to help identify barriers and provide support and encouragement as they achieve their goals.
The befriending group offers further opportunities to develop new relationships and meet people with similar needs. A volunteer mentor is always present at this group to support and encourage participation. Katie Blaye said “we provide an essential stepping stone back into the community for many vulnerable people”.
For more information, telephone Katie on: 01780 766446
At present we work with 1,282 mentoring and befriending projects and organisations in the region. Currently 256 of these have taken part in our registration process. Twenty seven percent of the projects consulted with were befriending and buddying; 36% were mentoring; 25% were 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 those with low self esteem and those who are socially isolated, excluded or lonely.
East Midlands has many examples of good practice in Mentoring and Befriending including:
Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL) Carers Telephone Befriending Service was set up in 2007 by Diane Claridge as part of the VASL Carers Project and achieved the MBF Approved Provider Standard in 2009.
The project currently has 5 volunteer befrienders making weekly or fortnightly calls from The Settling Rooms, Market Harborough to carers in the area. The calls give carers the opportunity to talk to someone in confidence outside the family. Some of the volunteers are ex-carers themselves so understand the problems and issues, but they can refer to the Carers Development Worker (Jacqui Mowson) if more practical advice or information is needed.
Project co-ordinator Diane Claridge commented that carers who have been using the service have said how much it has helped to have someone there to talk to, share a laugh and have a friendly chat and that it can also help to reduce the social isolation faced by many of the carers.
For further information about the service, contact Diane Claridge on 01858 432014.
StartaFresh is based within Christ Church in Stamford, Lincolnshire and in 2009 was awarded the Approved Provider Standard for their mentoring and befriending project. The project works with a wide range of clients referred from agencies including the jobcentre, Primary Care Team and local service providers and provides both one to one mentoring and group befriending with the support of 13 volunteers.
Co-ordinator Katie Blaye explained that volunteer mentors work with clients, many of whom have mental health issues, to help identify barriers and provide support and encouragement as they achieve their goals.
The befriending group offers further opportunities to develop new relationships and meet people with similar needs. A volunteer mentor is always present at this group to support and encourage participation. Katie Blaye said “we provide an essential stepping stone back into the community for many vulnerable people”.
For more information, telephone Katie on: 01780 766446
We have representatives in all of the nine government regions throughout England, making a direct impact upon 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 achieving Approved Provider Standard (APS) status.
Contact your Regional Co-ordinator(s)
