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Enriching Young Lives. ...through offering friendship, consistency, empathy and diverse experiences. Updated: 3 Oct 2011 Ken J. The Project Aims to. Promote the well-being of young people at risk and divert them, as appropriate, away from statutory measures of care. What We’ll Discuss.
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Enriching Young Lives... ...through offering friendship, consistency, empathy and diverse experiences Updated: 3 Oct 2011 Ken J
The Project Aims to... Promote the well-being of young people at risk and divert them, as appropriate, away from statutory measures of care
What We’ll Discuss... • The Young People • The Project - Background & Kind of Work • The Volunteer Befrienders • Current Status • Management & Staffing • Funding • The Future
The Young People May be... • unable to access social activities • disadvantaged by family circumstances • having problems at school • a young carer with family responsibilities • having mental health problems
Project Timeline • Early ’90‘s - Children’s Panel Members concerned by lack of resources for vulnerable young people in D&G Region • 1997 - Launched as Voluntary organisation with Charitable Status • Initially limited to 30-mile radius of Dumfries • 2005 - Newton Stewart Office Opened • 2010 - Stranraer Office opened
Project’s Work Based on... • Referrals - Children & Young People come to the Project from a variety of Sources: • Social Work (40%) • Education (31%) • NHS (19%) • Others (inc. family (10%) • Assessment • Matching • to a trained adult volunteer befriender • typically for a 12 - 18 month period
Individual & Group Programmes Volunteer Befrienders Work With Young People Through A Programme Of Individual And Group Meetings, To Boost Confidence And Improve Their Life Opportunities... • Developing trust between young person and adult • Providing someone out-with the family in whom they can confide • Offering regular time with a reliable person • Having fun in a relaxed atmosphere • Offering the opportunity to try out different activities and learn new skills • Channelling energies in a positive direction
The Volunteer Befrienders... • Backgrounds • Training • Matching • Personal Benefits
Present Situation... (Updated: 14 September 2011) • Number of Young People Matched: • Capacity: 45 Current: 42: 25 male & 17 female • Geographical Spread: • Dumfries: 23; Newton Stewart: 13; Stranraer: 6 • Waiting List: • 20 (at various stages in the referral/assessment process) • Number of Volunteer Befrienders: • 50 (40 trained; 10 in training) • Target is 60 Trained Volunteers • allows for befrienders to take a break
Management of the Project • Management Committee • Project Manager • Volunteer Co-ordinators • Administrative Support
Funding • Annual Costs ~ £170K • Council, Holywood Trust, NHS • Others have included: Laidlaw Trust, Big Lottery, BBC Children in Need... • Fund-raising efforts e.g. Dragon Boat Race; Burns Supper; Cairnsmore climb; bag-packing etc.
The Future • Extension into those areas with thin coverage at the moment • Finding additional funding sources to sustain the Project • Addressing the waiting list • Recruitment and training new Volunteer Befrienders
For More Information, please contact: Dumfries and Galloway Befriending Project Mount St Michael, Craigs Road, Dumfries, DG1 4UT Phone: 01387 247812 Email: projectoffice@befriending.org Web: http://befriending.org Thanks for your interest in...