Volunteering Opportunity: Telephone Befriender with Communities 1st

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Broxbourne, East Herts, Hertsmere, St Albans

Location: From home, Indoor

Time of day: Casual or Intermittent

Practical Considerations: No formal qualifications or prior guiding experience are required to volunteer with us.

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and abilities.

A full charity induction will be given before the volunteer starts with us and ongoing training is offered depending on which event you are working on.

Home based and in your local area.

References will be required from applications and will be taken up.

Please apply asap as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Volunteers MUST be over 16 (or be accompanied by an adult if under 16).

A minimum of six months commitment is required.

Suitable for: 16 – 17 year olds, 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, School students, University students, Older People

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: No

Full Description:
Our telephone Befrienders phone older people with long-term health conditions and their carers. They call on a regular basis to offer a friendly chat and a listening ear.

By becoming a befriender you will be able to use your skills in caring, listening and communication to make a real difference in someone's life. You should be able to deal with befriendees in a non-judgemental and respectful way, whilst maintaining the confidentiality and observing the networks organisational policies and procedures.

We hope that volunteers will develop a rewarding relationship with the older people they befriend by offering contact, understanding and information; a few phone calls a month can really make a difference.

Our volunteers - ordinary men and women of all ages and ethnicities - love spending time with older people. Through them, we want to help create a society where everyone feels valued and involved whatever their age.

We will also offer ongoing support and mentoring both individually and at group volunteer get-togethers.


You need no specific skills or qualifications other than a great listener, enjoys talking and have real empathy towards older people. A friendly disposition is useful.

We are looking for someone with the following skills and experience;

Committed to working with the community with a passion for helping others less fortunate, Ability to maintain confidentiality
Flexible approach and a willingness to work as part of a team