Volunteer!
Apply for one of our volunteer roles below!
Want to know more? Watch Roger and Shivam’s story.
As a Volunteer Befriender, you’ll meet inspirational people with fascinating stories, develop new skills and be part of a supportive team that values compassion and connection.
Volunteer Befriender
This is an opportunity to become a volunteer with our core Befriending Project, supporting people who are socially isolated in Ealing and Hounslow. They may have a physical or sensory disability, or they may have mild dementia, and are sometimes housebound.
Befrienders make a weekly 1-2 hour visit to the client’s home, where you might stay in and chat over a cup of tea or, where possible, go out for a walk together, visit a café or undertake a local activity.
These visits make such a difference for the client, but volunteering with BEfriend not only enriches the lives of those who are isolated, it also offers immense personal rewards for the volunteer.
Volunteer Befriender – Linked Minds
This is an opportunity to become a volunteer with our Linked Minds Project, supporting people who are socially isolated in Ealing and Hounslow due to a diagnosed mental health problem.
For the period of a year, Befrienders have a weekly 1-2 hour visit with the client at their home, or another location. You may undertake an activity together or attend one of our events. (Where applicable, volunteering with BEfriend can count towards continuous professional development.)
These visits really increase the client’s confidence and help them work toward specific goals. But volunteering with BEfriend also offers immense personal rewards for the volunteer.
Not able to make the 1-2 hour weekly time commitment for either of our Befriender roles right now? Our Group Co-facilitator role is a 2 hour monthly commitment with Linked Minds clients who would benefit from an extra year of support.
Volunteer Group Co-facilitator – Linked Minds
This is an opportunity to become a volunteer with our Linked Minds Project, as a Co-facilitator of groups for our Linked Minds clients who would benefit from an extra year to help them form new connections as their one-to-one befriending ends.
The monthly groups provide a safe, non-judgemental space for recovery-oriented meetings and for friendships to flourish. They consist of 1½ hours of sharing and discussion, followed by ½ hour of socialising over refreshments.
The groups are led by two Co-facilitators and the expected time commitment for this role is 2½ hours every 2-3 months. At least one of our Coordinators will always be present while groups are running to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all involved.
We also need volunteers to generally assist with Linked Minds groups – chatting, making tea and engaging with people to help the groups run smoothly. You’ll need to have undergone mental health training and a DBS check, then if you can spare 2 hours every 2-3 months, we’d love to hear from you.
