Community Angels are trained befrienders who offer six months of weekly face-to-face support to adults of all ages in Guildford borough struggling with loneliness and/or social isolation.
If you have a couple of free hours a week and enjoy listening and getting to know people, we'd love to hear from you. We provide training to get started (2 x 3 hours sessions), match you carefully with someone to befriend and provide ongoing support while you are volunteering with us.
Hear what our volunteers say on https://youtu.be/5MAb_UVTcc0
Volunteer here:
Community Angels is one of three projects run by Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy.
Who are Community Angels?
Community Angels are volunteer befrienders to older people or vulnerable adults. Those being supported may be facing loneliness, isolation, illness, disability or other difficulties in life.
Support is personalised and may range from chatting over a cup of tea to going for walks, trying a new activity, or accessing other types of help. Some adults may require short-term support through a difficult time, whilst others may benefit from longer term visits.
The key aspects of the role are to befriend, connect and empower:
Befriending: offering friendship and a listening ear
Connecting: people with other forms of support and activities
Empowering: people to make changes for themselves
What commitment is involved?
Community Angels commit to regularly visiting someone in their local area. A weekly commitment of an hour or two is ideal, but befriending on a less frequent basis can be discussed.
We consider your availability, experience, personality and other preferences when introducing you to a befriendee.
Who do Community Angels Support?
The majority of our referrals are from local professionals such as social workers, health professionals and other charities and services. However, we also accept referrals from the community, family members and self-referrals.
The range of needs is varied but may include physical illness, mental illness, disability, learning difficulty, lack of family support, or anything else leading to distress or the need for light support.
What difference will it make?
The aims of the project are to reduce social isolation and loneliness and to improve quality of life for individuals encountering difficulties. It may also involve helping people meet their own goals such as start new interests and activities. This can also reduce the strain on carers and statutory services.
What support do we provide?
Community Angels is run by Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy (GTCC). We provide training, regular ongoing support and opportunities to share with other volunteers. We are available to discuss any questions or concerns that arise throughout the role. We also provide information about wider support that is available.
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