Bramber Bakehouse is an award-winning charity, with a decade of experience supporting women who have experienced gender-based violence, abuse, exploitation or displacement, to gain the confidence, knowledge and skills they need for a safe, purposeful and independent future.

Four key ingredients:
Baking, wellbeing support, transferable life skills and ongoing support combine creating an environment for women to heal, feel valued, gain confidence, build skills and knowledge for the future and thrive in a loving community.

Our programme is safe and trauma-informed, built around the needs expressed by the women we support and those supporting them.

In response to valuable feedback from our graduates, we’re launching a befriending service creating opportunities for our graduates to build social connections, reduce isolation and work towards accessing further opportunities in their local communities.

We are looking for kind, caring and committed volunteers to provide weekly 121 distance befriending (via scheduled telephone and/ or online video calls) to matched graduates of Bramber Bakehouse, increasing opportunities for social connection, promoting health and wellbeing, self-confidence and independence.

Commitment:
- Approximately 2 hours per week (includes weekly befriending calls & related admin)
- Up to 16 sessions per befriending match
- Calls take place Monday - Thursday 9am to 5pm for 30 - 45 minutes
- Volunteers are required to commit to 12 months & support 2 match phases

Key responsibilities:
- Make regular contact with a woman/women with whom you have been matched, building a relationship of trust and support
-Support and encourage women to access opportunities that increase social connection & health & wellbeing utilising local signposting resources
- Submit a befriending contact sheet after each scheduled call
- Participate in built-in reviews and evaluation
- Participate in 121 and volunteer group support via the Coordinator
- Uphold Bramber Bakehouse’s vision, culture and values and abide by the policies and procedures provided through our volunteer training and handbook

Training
- All volunteers are required to attend befriending volunteer training & induction which include additional reading and homework activities
- Volunteers may be offered / required to participate in additional training and support during the placement
- Ongoing 121 & group support will be offered by the Coordinator either in person, via telephone or online
- Regular communications and resources will be shared with volunteers via email
- Reimbursement of out of pocket expenses such as phone call and travel costs (where required and with proof of receipt)

Qualities, Skills & Experience Required

Essential
- Must be female aged 18+
- Able to build relationships and work positively with team members and other women
- Organised and reliable
- Excellent communication skills
- Good IT skills (for emails, completing online forms, basic online searching)
- A warm and friendly attitude
- An understanding, empathetic and non-judgemental approach
- A clear sense of professional boundaries

Desirable
- Experience working with women survivors of trauma
- Experience of working with ethnically and culturally diverse communities
- Knowledge of local area and services

Other Requirements
- Able to attend three online volunteer training & induction sessions via Zoom
- Reliable access to a telephone, laptop/device and internet
- Able to commit to support for 12 months
- Provide details of 1 suitable reference
- Complete a DBS standard check (carried out by Bramber Bakehouse)