Befriender - Homeless Service
What You'll Do:
- Meet with your matched person regularly (weekly or fortnightly, depending on availability).
- Spend around 2 hours per visit engaging in conversation or shared activities (e.g. a walk, a coffee, or a cultural outing).
- Befriend within agreed boundaries.
- Attend induction and training, plus support and supervision sessions every 6–8 weeks.
- Use your Social Links debit card to cover the cost of activities up-front (e.g. coffee, travel).
The Role
Our volunteer befrienders – called Visitors – are matched one-to-one with someone living in a homeless hostel or supported housing in Westminster. Visitors meet their match regularly (weekly or fortnightly) to share interests, chat and build a healthy social connection. This role is not about giving advice or encouraging change – it’s about being present, listening and offering companionship.
Why You'll Love It:
- You’ll be part of something new and help shape it. We’re a small, growing charity, so your contribution is visible and genuinely valued. You will not feel like “just another volunteer”.
- You’ll be well supported throughout. You’ll get a thorough induction, training, and regular reflective supervision (every 6 to 8 weeks) with a named coordinator. It’s a more supportive set-up than most student volunteering roles.
- It’s strong experience for future roles. If you’re trying to break into the charity, social, or public sector, this gives you credible experience you can evidence in applications and interviews: boundaries, safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, and relationship-based work.
- You’ll get real personal development, not just something to add to a CV. You’ll build confidence in communication, listening, professionalism, and working with difference. You’ll also develop reflective skills and learn how to handle complex situations with support.
- It’s meaningful and human. The role is about companionship and connection, without a “fixing” agenda. Being present, consistent, and respectful can make a genuine difference to someone’s sense of belonging.
- You’ll meet people who are often overlooked. You’ll spend time with individuals with rich, surprising stories, humour, interests, and perspectives, and you may come away with a wider view of the world.
What You'll Learn:
- Experience of trauma-informed, person-centred volunteering.
- Training, ongoing support and regular support and supervision with tailored personal development.
- A chance to make a tangible difference to someone’s sense of connection and belonging.
- Ideal for someone who may like to work in the charity or social sector in futue, but who is not yet in a positive to evidence experience to employers.
What We're Looking For:
We don’t require previous experience – we recruit for values and attitudes. Our ideal volunteer is:
- Reliable and committed – able to maintain a 3–6 month volunteering commitment.
- A good listener – respectful, curious, and able to sit with different perspectives.
- Inclusive and non-judgemental – committed to equality, diversity and treating people the way they want to be treated.
- Reflective and open to feedback – willing to learn and grow through the experience.
- Happy to have a basic DBS check that Social Links will pay for.