RECOVERY RECONNECTS - This project helps women who are living with the longer term effects of domestic violence such as social isolation and depression. Volunteers will work with the Reconnect worker to organise and deliver a social and personal development programme to reconnect these women by building up their confidence, social skills and networking skills.

IT'S EXCITING BEING INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF SOMETHING NEW SO  PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING TO GET THIS NEW PROJECT STARTED AND HELP TO ALLEVIATE  LONELINESS AND ISOLATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY! If you have a couple of hours to spare and would like to be involved in this essential new project it would be a great opportunity to enhance your organisational and communication skills. Womens Aid provide their volunteers with excellent training and support and the difference made to the lives of these women and their families is significant and far reaching.  CONTACT THE VOLUNTEER CENTRE FOR MORE DETAILS.

Could you spare some time to be a friend to someone who needs a little extra support in their life? It won't cost you anything as all expenses are reimbursed. All it takes is a caring, non-judgemental attitude and a little time - take a look at what Donna Course, who volunteers with PRAXIS Young People Leaving Care scheme, has to say - 

The majority of young people come into care because of difficulties at home or family breakdown, not because they have done anything wrong and they just need some extra support. I applied to the befriending scheme, met the co-ordinator and was soon attending the training course.

The training was informal and fun but thorough and very enlightening and there were likeminded people who all had their own reasons for wanting to do voluntary work. A short time later I was told about my young person and prepared to go to a match meeting. Thankfully, young people and volunteers are matched according to the young people’s needs. Interests, personalities and location are all carefully considered so I was feeling optimistic and looking forward to the experience, even though I was a little nervous. 

The focus of the service is very much social. If a young person has little support, low self esteem and limited self confidence it is a great idea that a volunteer can come along, as a non professional and spend some quality time with them.           

My first impressions of this young person were of someone who was desperately trying to appear grown up and confident but she confided later that she was much more nervous than I was. We now meet up weekly, we have done a range of activities from eating Japanese food with chopsticks to learning to fly fish for trout – we have even caught some too!  Some of our future plans involve a Black Cab Tour of Belfast and a manicure.       

I have only been volunteering since May last year and even in this short time I have seen this young person grow in confidence. I find the experience of befriending rewarding and fun – giving me an opportunity to try new things and share good times with somebody else, somebody who may never have had the chance to try them. I would recommend this to everyone; we all have something special to offer and you could make positive changes to a young person’s life. 

"Experience is often what you get when you were expecting something else"

Befriending volunteers are urgently needed for PRAXIS and other schemes in the Ballymena & Larne boroughs. Contact us for further details.