Link Up
What is the Link-Up Befriending Project?
The Link-Up Befriending Project was set up in 2007 to enable current and former mental health service users to support one another and share personal experiences of recovery. The project aims to combat social isolation, increase confidence and skills, as well as promoting a greater understanding of ones own personal journey to recovery.
Who can volunteer to become a Befriender?
Volunteers are people who have used, or are currently using, mental health services themselves but who feel that they are at a point in their recovery where they would like to share this experience in order to support another service user who may be finding things more difficult. Volunteers should have some insight in to their own experiences and be able to draw on this to support their "befriendee". Volunteers receive full training and also have the opportunity to gain a qualification through the City of Bristol College.
To apply to become a volunteer with Link-Up you need to:
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have some insight in to your own experiences and be able to draw on this to support your befriendee;
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be non-judgemental and able to respect a person's right to choose how they live their life;
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be reliable and able to make a minimum commitment of three months to the project, once training is completed;
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be able to attend two days of core training;
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have an ability to listen to others.
Volunteers with experience of problematic drug or alcohol use will need to have been abstinent for at least one year prior to an application for Link-Up.
All volunteers will be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
Who can use the service and have a Link-Up Befriender?
Befriendees are Second Step service users who feel that they would like some extra support from somebody with personal experience of mental health difficulties. Befriendees will receive the support of a trained volunteer who has lived with and had experience of mental health difficulties. This support can continue on a weekly basis for up to six months. Befriendees will also have the chance to become a volunteer themselves.
If you want to be considered for the service you need to:
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be looking for new ways to improve your mental health and move towards recovery;
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be able to meet up with your volunteer once a week;
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be receiving ongoing support from a paid Support Worker.
We cannot work with:
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some people with a history of violence;
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schedule one offenders;
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people with high support needs.
We will require a risk assessment for all service users applying to become a befriendee.
Please note: sometimes we are limited in the support we can give to people with problematic drug or alcohol use. However, we will always look at people's individual needs and how we can best provide help.
I would like more information about this service.
For more information about the project or to find out more about volunteering, contact Link-Up on:
Telephone number: 0117 909 6630
or by emailing us at: linkup@second-step.co.uk
Alternatively you can click on the link below to download a Link-Up information leaflet.