Buddy Volunteers – providing support to improve well-being…

Dudley CVS promotes and nurtures volunteering opportunities with the Volunteer Centre helping people engage with all things volunteering across the Dudley Borough. There are many rewarding benefits that come from volunteering; gaining a sense of personal achievement, meeting new people, learning new skills, and improving your confidence. All while giving back to your local community.

Integrated Plus aims to support the community by developing an offer that provides opportunities for people who have accessed support and improved their wellbeing to continue meaningful engagement. This can be by engaging with other organisations and groups in the community and voluntary sector. Another avenue that the service has recently developed is for former clients and local people to volunteer in a buddying role.

Integrated Plus has developed its offer by providing the opportunity for people who have benefited from support themselves to continue their journey with the service. Volunteers can train to become a Volunteer Buddy who can offer peer support, befriending, and support clients in the community. Support may consist of a regular telephone call that helps to reduce social isolation. Volunteers can also meet clients in the community to go for a regular walk or support them to engage with services or groups that may be too daunting for them to go to alone for the first time.

Integrated Plus now has a group of established volunteers that support the service to provide not just professional but also peer-based support. It has also given former clients the opportunity to benefit from the rewarding nature of volunteering. Many have reported it being an enjoyable experience, gaining a sense of personal achievement, meeting new people, learning new skills, and developing their knowledge through training and support. This has increased the service capacity and offer – in return providing training for volunteers to develop their skills.

An example of how volunteers can help is by developing client’s confidence by providing support going out into the community following a period of isolation. The service has seen success in volunteers attending Spring into Action funded groups supporting new clients integrate and access support. Volunteers have also helped clients getting out into the community again by going for regular walks with them to develop confidence.

An example of this in action is highlighted in feedback during a recent reviews:

Quote from IP worker following a review call with client: “When I spoke to her a few weeks back she didn’t think she would be able to use local transport by herself again but within a few weeks and support from the Volunteer Buddy she feels she is almost there and has ‘really gained what she used to be’.”

Quote from Impact and Evaluation review: “Client said she had support from a phone buddy, he was marvellous and they had a good natter. Following a few calls they met in the community which helped to develop her confidence to start going out again. She now gets out a lot more. She is going to an exercise group twice a week and has got back in touch with old friends.”

Dudley CVS promotes local volunteering opportunities and can provide a range of volunteering resources and training. Residents can register with Dudley Volunteer Centre or view current volunteering opportunities on this website. To find out how you can get involved you can also contact Grace (Dudley CVS Volunteering Development Officer).