Here at Friends of the Family Winchester, we always love hearing from our volunteers about what it means to them to be a friend to a child in need of a little extra support. Sharon, one of our volunteers, was recently interviewed for Winchester Radio and we are pleased to share her experience here. If you have ever wondered about volunteering and whether it’s for you, read on!
Mary: What inspired you to become a volunteer befriender for Friends of the Family?
Sharon: I’m working less than I used to, and so I’ve been looking for something new to do with my life. I was particularly keen to support families in my community who might need a bit of extra help. So, when I saw the poster advertising this opportunity, it jumped out at me! It’s not just that I’ve got some skills that might be useful – I also really love the idea of working with children.
Mary: Then you filled in an application form – what happened next?
Sharon: I was called for an interview – although it was much more like an informal chat! Then there were two days of training. We covered many topics, from ideas about what to do with the children to listening skills and safeguarding. The training was excellent – it made me realise that I’d be very well supported as I embarked on this new challenge.
Mary: And then you were matched with a child?
Sharon: Yes, I was matched with a 10-year-old – my focus child. This process is very important – Friends of the Family are experts at matching volunteers and children who will suit each other. We now meet up every week for a couple of hours.
Mary: What do you do during that time?
Sharon: At the moment, we’re both figuring out what we enjoy doing! Luckily, there’s a lot to do in Winchester. We’ve been to the library, where there was an exhibition, as well as the art college. Whatever we do, we always end up drinking hot chocolate in a cafe! I often bring a bag of art materials so we can get creative together.
Mary: It’s quite early days for you both. How do you think this is helping your focus child?
Sharon: Every child is different, and so is every volunteer! Taking it slowly is very important. My child is in year six, the year before they transition to secondary school, so it’s a really challenging year. Mainly, I’m there to listen and share ideas – I can already see I’m making a difference. It’s been lovely for me too!
Mary: And we’re hearing now that the need for something like this is greater than ever before.
Sharon: Yes – we’ve got lots of children and families on our waiting list. I don’t think the charity has had a waiting list before. It’s partly because people have busy lives and are volunteering less. So we really need more people to step forward. I just want to let people know what a great opportunity this is, and how fantastic it is volunteering as a befriender.
Mary: Young people need that help, don’t they?
Sharon: More than ever. There are many more challenges for kids these days, and so many issues that trouble them. Adding a little bit of extra support and friendship is so valuable. We’re there to be a friend and to listen – and maybe to offer a little bit of gentle guidance when we can.
Mary: What would you say to encourage someone else to take that step and to get involved?
Sharon: Honestly, our befrienders come from every sort of background. You might look at it and think: “Oh gosh, I don’t know if I could do that!” It might even seem a little scary. But it really isn’t. That’s partly because of the support and training you get from the charity, as well as the way we’re matched with families that really suit us. You’re never alone – the people at Friends of the Family are always there at the end of a phone line if you need them. The knowledge that you can support a child and offer them hope is wonderful – I think people might get far more out of it than they might expect.
Mary: And so far, you’re enjoying it?
Sharon: Absolutely! It’s become a very important part of my week.
As Sharon said, we are looking for more volunteers to be a friend to a local child between the ages of 5 and 13. To find out more call 01962 864466, email volunteer@fotfwinchester.org or visit www.fotfwinchester.org. We’d love to hear from you!
If you would like to listen to the full interview with Sharon on Winchester Radio, head to soundcloud.com/winchester-now
