Dorset Buddies
Community Befriending Schemes
We need volunteers to help with our local befriending schemes across Dorset.
Schemes currently operate in Bridport, Dorchester, Crossways and Wimborne. Other locations will soon have their own schemes.
Our volunteers support isolated, older and vulnerable people who may be lonely, or who just need a helping hand to stay independent.
Buddies work in partnership with existing local community groups to avoid duplication of services and ensure a full and comprehensive service is equally accessible to everyone.
Services provided:
- visiting to provide company
- shopping and errands
- accompanied walks or trips out
- pushing a wheelchair
- playing board games
- family support
- dog walking
- sitting to help a carer
- reading to someone
- helping with correspondence.
Benefits
People receiving our support and their carers benefit from practical help and social contact.
The community benefits from being able to offer extra help and support to people when professional help is not what they really need.
Volunteers benefit from:
- the satisfaction of taking part in rewarding and useful work
- feel-good factor
- doing something rewarding
Vounteering may also help:
- to ease people with mental health problems back into society
- young volunteers working for their Duke of Edinburgh awards, baccalaureate studies and others
- to break down social barriers and misconceptions of youth and older people
- people to put down roots and find their way around a new community/area.
