Shropshire Mind's Telephone Befriending Service

The aims of this service are to help:-

• people struggling with mental distress
• relieve isolation
• foster independence
• identify and address any further needs
• signpost or refer to other services as needed

How is Telephone befriending different from other help lines?

• It is a pre-arranged call between the befriendee and their befriender
• The befriender makes the call, not the befriendee
• It is the same person calling each time, so the befriendee does not have to keep re-telling their story
• The calls are regular and don't always coincide with times of distress for the service user, thereby normalising the relationship
• It helps to make the service user feel better about themselves
• It provides an opportunity to chat about regular everyday things
• The partnerships give a chance to talk on a more equal basis

Our telephone befrienders will:-

• make regular calls to their befriending partner at pre-agreed times
• chat with and actively listen to their befriendee
• show an interest in their befriendee's life and family and empathise with any health or personal problems
• be properly trained and cleared for working with vulnerable people by an enhanced CRB check
• be supervised by our experienced Co-ordinator who can provide advice and guidance when necessary
• always value the dignity and independence of their befriendee
• always act strictly in accordance with Shropshire Mind's policies and procedures