Befriending

Volunteers in Care Homes for Older People - An underused opportunity?
Rose Heatley, Relatives & Residents Association, Autumn 2007
This study explores the current situation and future potential for using volunteers in a range of roles, including befriending, in care homes for older people. Their value is seen to potentially help tackle the high levels of depression and social isolation experienced. Explores the benefits and barriers to using volunteers in both not-for-proft and for-profit care homes.
Price £7.50, available from Relatives & Residents Association

Social networks, befriending and support for family carers of people with dementia
G Charlesworth, F Poland, Quality in Ageing, June 2007
This journal article is a secondary analysis of data from a longitudinal study of befriending of carers of people with dementia. They studied the relationship between social network type and support from family/friends, voluntary sector befriending and residential/nursing care. 

Vanishing Britain - survey of concerns for British people and places
CSV Make a Difference Day / ICM, August 2006
This research reveals the concern that people across the UK feel about the 'vanishing' dignity for older people and declining support for young people growing up.

The report of the Older People's Inquiry into 'That Bit of Help'
Counsel & Care/Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2006
Documents the experiences of older people and professionals to identify gaps in service provision. Recommends 13 services they want and value - one of which is befriending.
See also - Evidence submitted to the Older People's Inquiry. 

Befriending Learners
Jane Field, NIACE, Nov 2005, £7.95
Considers how befriending projects operate & sets out practical approaches to all aspects of developing and delivering a befriending programme. 

Growing old in a London borough: the shrinking personal community and how volunteers help to maintain it
Anne Gray, Families & Social Capital ESRC Research Group, February 2006
This research aimed to examine the 'social capital' older people (the networks available to them for friendship, emotional and practical support. Also to examine the role played by volunteers who support them.

Befriending Network Scotland has a list of research articles available on their website. Also links to a report 'The Nature and Extent of Befriending and Mentoring in Scotland' which studies 277 befriending and mentoring projects throughout Scotland (published 2003).

Grey matters - Growing older in deprived areas - A guide for donors and grant-makers
Claudia, Botham & Tristan Lumley; New Philanthropy Capital, Dec 2004
Research describing the scale of challenges older people face - focusing on poverty, isolation and social exclusion. One of the interventions it examines is the role of the befriending scheme.  Summary and full report available.

Befriending. More than just finding friends?
Pauline Heslop, Carol Robinson; Shared Care Network, 2004. ISBN: 1874291179; £13.95
A report focusing on the views and experiences the people connected to 7 befriending schemes for children and/or adults with learning difficulties. This included workers, people with learning difficulties using the schemes, the befrienders and parents of children attached to the schemes.

Quality Measures for Befriending Services
Pauline Heslop, Shared Care Network, 2004. ISBN: 1874291225; £12.95
A working tool to help practitioners and managers work towards achieving 'best practice' in key areas of befriending including publicity, referrals, assessment, training and matching support.

Supporting community participation: The role and impact of befriending
Jo Dean & Robina Goodlad, Pavilion, 1998
Explores how befriending services are organised, why users want the services and the benefits that befriending brings. Read the 'Findings' summary of the report on the JRF website.

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