Information for Young People
Good News! We can take referrals again so have a look and see if we look like the kind of support that you or another young person wants.
Befriending – what’s it all about?
For Young People – it provides you with someone you can have fun with every week, can talk to (if you want to), share activities with. And they’re there just for you.
One of our Support Workers would spend time with you to get to know you and you can let them know what you might want from a befriending service and what kind of volunteer befriender would suit you. Then we look for the right volunteer for you. This can take a while but your Support Worker will keep in touch and we’ll be as quick as we can.
Once you’re matched (and happy with the match) you and your befriender can get on with having fun – visits are usually weekly and you’ll see your Support Worker every 3 months too.
Here’s what other young people have said about YPBS…
“It gets me out of the house and gives me time for me. I love it!” Maggie is 15
“It’s given me the confidence to feel safe in the local area and start Volunteering in a charity shop, it’s changed my life.” Ricky is 18
“We have so much fun together and I get to focus on nice things for a while.” Alex is 11
“My Befriender is just like me, loves football and art, it’s like we were meant to be befriending together.” Frankie is 10
“I have the best time with my befriender and it is easily my Favourite day of the week when she is coming.” Betty is 12
“I really enjoy hanging out with my befriender as it gives me something just for me to look forward to every week and I can be myself and do lots of the activities I enjoy as well as trying new things.” Larry is 13
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions we are often asked. To find out the answers simply click on the questions below:
Do I have to have this?
No, definitely not! If you don’t think this is for you then just tell us. You can ask the Support Worker questions and check out what befriending would be like first then decide.
Will they like me? Will I like them?
What’s not to like? As we get to know you, we’ll learn what kind of befriender would suit you – someone chatty, someone who listens, someone who likes the things you like – so that you’ll both enjoy one another’s company.
Is it confidential?
Yes, whatever you talk to your befriender about will stay between you, your befriender and your Support Worker. The only time that we would tell anyone else would be if we were worried about your safety or wellbeing. We’d talk to you about that if it came up.
Do Befrienders get paid?
No, Befrienders are volunteers and choose to spend time with their young person because they enjoy it. They learn things and get to enjoy time with a young person.
How often will my Befriender come?
Most often, visits are every week and you decide between the two of you when they happen.
How long will it last?
Visits last about 2-3 hours each week but if a visit needs to be shorter, just tell us.
Befriending matches last for as long as everyone (you, your Befriender and your Support Worker) are happy for it to continue. When a match is to end we ask that everyone knows when and why in advance.
Who decides what we will do on visits?
You and your Befriender choose what activities you’ll share. It has to be safe, fun for both of you and be within the visit budget. If you’ve got lots of things that you’d like to do, that’s great but if you’d like some ideas, have a chat with your Support Worker.
Get in touch
Other questions? Please call 0141 226 3431, email befriending@volunteerglasgow, or complete the short message form below.
We’d love to hear from you.
