Information
for Community Mental Health Teams
Rethinks Good Companions befriending service originally
became operational in 1997, recruiting, training and supporting
volunteers who were matched in partnership with people who were
at risk of becoming isolated as a direct result of their mental
health.
Service Aims and Objectives
To provide a befriending service for individuals who may be at risk
of social exclusion as a direct result of their mental illness.
We do this by:
Volunteer befriending – 1 to 1 partnerships
between a trained volunteer and a service user
Befriending worker 1 to 1 community contact –
our befriending workers meet regularly with service users whom our
co-ordinators have identified as being unready or inappropriate
for a volunteer befriending, perhaps due to their special needs.
They spend time with each individual in the community and aim to
support and prepare people for either volunteer befriending or group
befriending
Social Activities – where small groups of
service users together with their befrienders meet up in a local
public facility such as a café or a park or even the theatre
and enjoy social interaction and/or activities together
Group Befriending – where service users who
are awaiting a volunteer befriender match are supported in participating
in small group social gatherings as above. These activities are
facilitated and supported by staff and volunteers
Mental Health Promotion – challenging stigma
by promoting positive images of mental health across south Essex,
including giving talks to a wide range of people such as schools
and colleges and other diverse groups, participating in media interviews,
and imaginatively seeking opportunities to raise public perception
of mental health in consultation, support and inclusion with our
service users
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