Brent Mind aims to provide a befriending scheme for adults in Brent who are experiencing mental health problems and who are lonely and socially isolated. We offer individual and group befriending.

We believe the befriending scheme can:

• Reduce loneliness and social isolation
• Enable service users to access information about and use local resources
• Increase self-esteem and social skills through the development of a positive relationship with a befriender.

What is Befriending?

Individual befriending involves a volunteer befriender meeting with a service user regularly, once a week for 1 to 2 hours for a period of one year. How they spend their time together is up to them. Some people like to chat over a cup of tea, others like to visit a café, a shop or sports centre, or follow up some other interests.

Group befriending is an option for people who wish to get together with a small group of other service users to pursue common interests and activities. Activities include going to cafes, cinema and bowling. Two volunteers facilitate the group which meets every fortnight. This could be a good way of making new friends.

Getting a befriender

People who are interested in getting a befriender may be self-referred or referred by external agencies or GPs. They must:

• Live in the Borough of Brent
• Be aged 18 or over
• Be experiencing or have experienced mental health distress
• Be isolated and interested in having a befriender

Demand for befriending is on the increase and there is a long waiting list.
Being matched with a befriender can take anything from a few weeks to several months. It depends on the number of befrienders available as well as the particular needs and preferences of the applicant.

If you would like more information or are interested in applying to get a befriender or in joining the group, please call Evelyne Abrahams at Brent Mind on 0208 451 32 00

Becoming a befriender

Befrienders are asked to be available for 1 to 2 hours a week for a period of one year. They provide companionship and support, this can include listening to someone talk about their experiences, or take part in some social activity together.
Personal qualities and skills required include:

• Warmth and sensitivity
• Reliability
• Ability of listen
• Ability to communicate easily
• Ability to learn from the experience

Our volunteer befrienders are not professionals. Thus previous experience is not essential. The befriending scheme runs a compulsory induction and training programme for all potential volunteers. Once matched with a service user, the scheme provides on-going support and regular supervision. Volunteers can claim out-of-pocket expenses. Previous volunteers have moved onto paid work in the field or have gone on to further training in a related area.

If you are interested in becoming a befriender, please refer to our volunteering section for more information.