On 11 September 2019 Christina McKelvie MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Older People & Equalities visited People Know How to learn all about our projects and services, with a particular focus on befriending.
Befriending for young people
People Know How has been delivering befriending since 2014. Part of our Positive Transitions, this project works closely with schools to provide young people with a befriender. Through this project, young people are able to express their worries, have some fun or take a quiet break from their thoughts in the company of a befriender paired with them through a thorough matching process. These meetings take place both in and outside of school, providing a safe environment and positive role model they can trust. In 2018 we were awarded the Quality in Befriending Award for our excellence in this work.
“It’s quite fun for someone to listen to you. Basically it’s like having an extra friend understand you – having an older brother who listens and helps. They understand your problems, like if you have problems in your house or problems with you, they understand.” - Befriendee
We have since expanded this to include Art Befriending, an increasingly popular option for those who wish to become befrienders. This combines our learning from Befriending and Art Therapy and offers befrienders the opportunity to use art to support and communicate with their young person.
Applying our befriending model
Applying our befriending modelDue to the success of our Positive Transitions service befriending project, we’re now applying our befriending model to our other services. Reconnect, previously a digital drop in service, has been reviewed to extend our support beyond just digital inclusion, using befriending. This means that everyone who comes to us is matched as closely as possible to one of our volunteers, based on their specific personal requirements.
Our new befriending projects include digital befriending, matching volunteers with people who can provide digital training and address issues such as social isolation and career growth. We are also offering a walking befriending service to adults in the North East locality of Edinburgh to support those who are lonely and may benefit from social interaction and gentle exercise.
Part of a network
Our befriending projects have allowed us to be part of Befriending Networks, whose Chief Executive Sarah Van Putten spoke at Christina McKelvie’s visit on Wednesday. She commended People Know How’s befriending services and expressed excitement in seeing how the newer projects will grow even further through befriending.
Alleviating social isolation
Christina McKelvie also addressed the group during her visit, connecting the role of the Scottish Government to the work of charities and their volunteers who aim to alleviate social isolation and loneliness while improving health and wellbeing.
She also announced that the Scottish Government has allocated £80,000 to Befriending Networks, underlining the value the government sees in befriending and the work that organisations like People Know How do.
Our project coordinators and VIPs also spoke with Christina at length about their projects, including demonstrating a few Curiosity Club experiments, providing an introduction to our Music Therapy project and sharing touching befriending stories.
Thanks Christina McKelvie MSP and Chief Executive Sarah Van Putten for a wonderful visit!