Pairing older neighbours with volunteer befrienders in the community

Apply to volunteer

Complete the form below to sign up as a befriender.

Join our befriending team! We require all volunteers to complete a DBS background check and commit to a minimum of 6 months of supporting their older neighbour.

Please note that as our older neighbours are aged over 65, we do not require them to complete a DBS check with us. However, we do ask referrers to disclose as much information as possible to protect our volunteers.

Why volunteer?

You will change someone's life. You are taking a step that not everybody does – you are giving something of yourself to help a stranger, and that is amazing! Volunteering is very rewarding, but friendship is a two-way street; you will gain a huge amount from this.

At b:friend we are flexible and responsive, we try to accommodate volunteer needs wherever possible. You will be supported by a volunteer coordinator. You will be valued – what you are doing is brilliant and has such meaning.

What our volunteers have to say

Your Email (required)

First Name (required)

Last Name (required)

Preferred Pronoun (optional)

Telephone Number (required)

Are you over 18 years of age?

Yes

You must be aged 18 or over to volunteer with us.

Your Address Address Line 1 Address Line 2 Town/City

Postcode

Please enter a valid UK postcode (e.g., AB12 3CD)

How would you like to volunteer? (required)

Our face-to-face befriending takes place across South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. If you're not local to these areas, you might be interested in choosing telephone befriending instead. It's flexible, and you can do it from anywhere. The regular phone calls our befrienders make have a huge positive impact on isolated older neighbours, and many of our volunteers build great friendships this way.

Are you fluent in English?

Yes

What’s your occupation? (optional)

Please indicate the maximum distance you are willing to travel for your befriending visits in miles: (required)

What age category do you fit in to? (required)
Please note this data is anonymised.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Monitoring

Please note that this data is anonymised and is for monitoring purposes only.

Why do you need this information? b:friend is committed to promoting equality and diversity at every level. We collect this data to ensure our charity operates in a fair, equitable and inclusive way. We use it to provide information to our funders about the communities we support and work with. The data also helps us identify potential barriers to access and participation and to improve our services.

How would you describe yourself? (required)
Please note this data is anonymised.

Please specify

Do you have a disability, impairment or health condition which affects your day-to-day activities? (required)

Which of the following options best describes your sexual orientation? (required)
Please note this data is anonymised.

Please say how

What is your religion or belief? (required)
Please note this data is anonymised.

Please describe

Any other information you would like to give us? Please tell us why you would like to volunteer for b:friend, and if you have any special talents, second languages you speak, skills you'd like to share or any accessibility requirements.

Would you like to receive updates from b:friend?

I would like to receive news & updates from b:friend.

I do not want to receive news & updates from b:friend.

Choose how you would like to receive updates:

Email Text Phone

How did you hear about b:friend? (required)

Please specify

I consent to complete a DBS check within 2 weeks of signing up to volunteer. I consent to b:friend storing my details to use this service.

You can review our Data Protection & Privacy Policy here

Although there is no requirement, would you like to contribute towards the cost of your DBS check?

Yes

Click here to donate

I already have an enhanced DBS check issued within the last 6 months for the Adult Workforce, or I am on the update service.