Welcome to our new shop
We can deliver items within Fife or you can collect from one of our stores.
Every purchase made helps us provide our services to the Fife community.
Thank You!
Welcome to our new shop
We can deliver items within Fife or you can collect from one of our stores.
Every purchase made helps us provide our services to the Fife community.
Thank You!
Welcome to our new shop
We can deliver items within Fife or you can collect from one of our stores.
Every purchase made helps us provide our services to the Fife community.
Thank You!
Welcome to our new shop
We can deliver items within Fife or you can collect from one of our stores.
Every purchase made helps us provide our services to the Fife community.
Thank You!
Castle Furniture Project
Supporting Mental Health Well-Being
Befriending
As people become older many can, unfortunately, experience isolation and loneliness perhaps as a result of bereavement, retirement, loss of mobility, illness or because families are busy or move away from the local area. This in turn can lead to loss of confidence, depression and general poor health which ultimately may contribute to older people leaving their home and moving into residential accommodation.
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Castle Befriending Project matches volunteer befrienders on a one to one basis with elders in the community that have become socially isolated because of illness, disability or some difficulty or change of circumstance. Befrienders visit regularly and may undertake activities such as a home visit, a trip out to local place of interest or to access local community facilities, or share hobbies and interests. Befrienders carry out a purely social role and do not undertake any personal care or domestic duties.
Referrals
Referrals can also come from an older person themselves or any professional involved in an older person's care e.g. health workers, social services and other voluntary organisations. Referrers can call the project and discuss a potential referral with the Coordinators or complete a referral form giving details about the client's health, circumstances and support needs. Referrals should only be made with the client's consent.
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Please complete the online form below.
Volunteering
Our befrienders come from all walks of life and are all ages. They range from 18 to 70+ and include students, parents of young children, part time and full time workers while some are retired. Whatever your background or circumstances you can befriend if:​
Volunteering
Our befrienders come from all walks of life and are all ages. They range from 18 to 70+ and include students, parents of young children, part time and full time workers while some are retired. Whatever your background or circumstances you can befriend if:​
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You like talking to others
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You are able to listen
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You have a couple of hours each week/fortnight that you'd enjoy spending with an older person
As a befriender you would:
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Have an informal interview with one of our Volunteer Coordinator.
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Have references checked and undergo an enhanced disclosure.
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Take part in an initial training course.
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Be matched with a compatible client, visiting them weekly or fortnightly. Popular befriending activities include home visits for a cup of tea and a chat, trip to local shops, nice cafe for a bowl of soup, trip to the cinema or sharing hobbies or interests.
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Receive ongoing support and supervision. Volunteers have regular contact with their Coordinator and also have access to training opportunities and social events.
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Be reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses.
If you feel that volunteering as a befriender with Castle is for you please complete our volunteering form