'Befriending' - A Case Study
When my son started nursery I wanted to go back to work, but was not sure where to start. I had been taking my son to the Sure Start activity groups and I became friends with one of the staff, Ingrid. She suggested that volunteering could be a route back into employment.
"“She said it would help to build my confidence, improve the skills I had and help me to gain new skills and experience.”
Ingrid told me about the Perinatal Support Project and referred me to Family Action. I received a welcome letter and I attended a training course. The training was really good, we were told about health and safety, personal safety and all of the different services we could get involved with. At the end of the course, I received my certificate and I was ready to volunteer!
I decided I wanted to become a ‘volunteer befriender’, which means supporting a new mum (your ‘befriendee’) - on the phone and with home visits - to help the mum and baby develop a healthy attachment. I may also accompany her to antenatal appointments. I commit to supporting her until her baby is about nine months old, if necessary.
While I was waiting to be matched with a ‘friend’ I did a community-interpreting course. My Family Action supervisor introduced me to a Children’s Centre midwife who was giving antenatal care to an expectant mum, Ruta; an Arabic-speaking refugee from Eritrea with limited English, so that I could help with interpreting and gain my qualification. Ruta is also diabetic and has a two-year-old son. The midwife told Ruta about Family Action Newpin and asked her if she would like to be referred to the Perinatal Support Project. Ruta was very interested. The midwife did the referral and I asked my supervisor if I could become her friend, to help her with the language barrier.
I went with my supervisor to Ruta’s home, a sixth floor ‘temporary housing’ flat. My supervisor explained to Ruta about the project and about how we work in complete confidentiality. I gave her the guidelines (which I had translated) and we signed the permission sheet, so that we could swap phone numbers.
Ruta and I now do so many things together. I see her on weekly basis, some times twice a week depending on what she needs. Every time I do something for her and see her smile I feel so good. Ruta told me before she met me she was continuously worried and depressed. Now that she has me she sleeps better, knowing she is not alone. This has made all my efforts worthwhile!
"“Through volunteering I have become more confident as I have visited lots of different places and met lots of people.”
I am a better listener and have learned how to manage my time. It has also made me aware of some skills I never thought I had. I feel strong and not worried about saying what I think is right.
Hunaida Osman, Volunteer.
Hunaida has since gone on to train to deliver parenting programmes with a project at Centre for Parent and Child Support, and is currently contracted in paid employment to run further groups.
Read some more inspiring case studies from some of our volunteers.
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