This new telephone befriending course has been developed by Voscur and Age UK Bristol. This is an introductory session for volunteers working on telephone befriending services during COVID-19 and provides all the basic information and skills required. It runs in two parts, on the 6 and 7 May, both sessions run 9.30am - 12.30pm. By booking this course you automatically book for both sessions, to complete the course you need to attend both days. 

What is this course about?

This course is about the role and responsibilities of telephone befrienders and gives all the basic information needed to get started.

What will you learn?

• Be able to undertake supportive telephone befriending conversations with your clients including using systems effectively and being an effective listener
• Understand your role and responsibilities and be able to manage boundaries
• Be able to recognise and know what to do if there is a safeguarding concern with a client
• Be able to effectively signpost clients to other services
• Understand the need for record keeping and supervision
• Be able to access support for your befriending and ensure that your wellbeing needs are met

Who is the course for?

Any organisation who is running telephone befriending service with volunteers.

Level: Basic

Theme: Leading your organisation

NB: If you are interested in training volunteers in befriending you may also be interested in our train the trainers course that runs following this course - https://www.voscur.org/calendar/event/training-trainers-running-telephon... (You must have taken part in Telephone Befriending to book Training Trainers)

What else do you need to know?

To take part in the online training you will need a laptop with a camera, microphone, and Wi-Fi. You will not require any additional software. You will be emailed an invitation with a link to join the online training prior to the course.

This is a new course and is free of charge as Voscur are currently offering free courses to support the VCSE sector during this challenging time. If the course becomes full please join the waiting list as we are hoping to run the course again if we can see there is a need.

Voscur has had to cancel face to face training events due to the ongoing public health situation with coronavirus (or COVID-19). This decision was taken in line with local and national health advice, and to safeguard the health of our attendees and staff. We are aware that many VCSE organisations in the city are focusing their efforts on providing and changing their services to respond to communities. For more information about coronavirus, https://www.voscur.org/content/covid19-service-users

This course is currently free – the usual rates for a half day course would be: Full Member: £55, Associate Member: £77, Non Member: £94.

Voscur training courses continue to be free throughout May 2020. This is part of our offer to the VCSE sector, providing extra support during the pandemic when we know your time, energy and resources are all pushed to the limit. However if you book a course and then cannot make the training, please do let us know by 3pm the day before the course as someone else can then benefit from taking part – our courses often have large waiting lists at present. Voscur reserves the right to charge an admin fee for anyone who does not attend the course and has not informed us.