Praxis Care is looking for Volunteer Befrienders
Praxis Care supports individuals who feel lonely and isolated as a result of their mental ill health through a volunteer befriending programme. Some of your congregation could get involved as volunteers to support people in your community who could benefit from this befriending service.
Praxis Care is mental health and learning disability charity which supports adults and children through residential and day care, respite and floating support across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and England.
New befriending matches have been funded by the Big Lottery Fund through the Together for You programme, an innovative and exciting new project led by Action Mental Health in partnership with Aware Defeat Depression, CAUSE, Cruse, MindWise, NEXUS NI, Praxis Care and Relate NI, which will deliver mental health and wellbeing services to a range of people across Northern Ireland.
Volunteers build friendships which have a lasting positive impact on both themselves and the people they befriend. We receive referrals from Community Mental Health Teams and then we match volunteers to those individuals.
There aren’t any particular skills or qualifications needed to become a volunteer befriender, someone who has good communication skills, an interest in people and time to meet their befriendee on a regular basis is all that it takes. We will provide training and support to volunteers to ensure that they feel equipped and ready for their role.
Volunteer befrienders get involved in everyday activities like going for a walk, meeting for a cup of coffee, going shopping or to the cinema.
To get involved contact Catherine Little, Volunteer Co–ordinator at Praxis Care, on 028 9072 7161, catherinelittle@praxiscare.org.uk or visit www.praxiscare.org.uk If you would like to find out more about the work of Praxis Care please feel free to get in touch.