Befriending
York and District Mind Befriending service.
Description:
York and District Mind have introduced a befriending service based on the service, successful piloted by Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind. The service is known as the Circle of Friends befriending service because it is underpinned, by the innovative Circle of Friends Approach, this was researched and then introduced by Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind in 2001/02.
The service is one whereby paid workers and trained, well supported volunteers work to facilitate help for people with mental health problems via the fostering of an enabling network (or circle) of ‘friends’ that resemble the patterns of contacts of community life. Specifically, the network intends to offer the Circle of Friends supports*: information, emotional support, practical support, social support and advocacy that is, the things that good friends offer one another.
This projects primary aim is to enable people with mental health difficulties to achieve social inclusion and to play a greater part in the neighbourhoods and communities in which they live. It also aims to prevent relapse and promote recovery in the least restrictive environment possible, i.e. the person using the services own home, neighbourhood or community.
The Circle of Friends befriending service in York and District Mind is centred on those people who use mental health services. In the context of a Whole System (A whole system approach places the person being supported at the centre of a range of appropriate services and opportunities and matches available facilities/resources with their unique, expressed, wants and needs) and Person Centred Approach (Person – centred planning recognises that the service user is the expert in their own condition, wants and needs and that “Introducing a ‘person-centred’ planning processes [leads] to people doing more things they really want to do, and realising more of their hopes, dreams and ambitions.’ (Cole et al. ‘Developing new lifestyles with disabled people.’ Sept. 2000). The service will explore an individuals wants and needs and will then aim to meet these through volunteer support agreed in a ‘plan of action’. People using the service will have their own volunteer befriender who will support them to achieve their goals via the provision of one or more of the Circle of Friends supports (see above) and, significantly, they will also have use of the wider ‘circle’ of volunteer befrienders within the scheme where their skills and interests better meet identified need. The service therefore recognises that all involved form part of the ‘circle’ and that there is scope for all to enrich the lives of each other.
Need:
There is a considerable body of academic support for the Circle of Friends Approach, in particular the work of Robert Perske (Circle’s of Friends, 1998) together with that of David Brandon and Lana Morris (Changing Lightbulbs, 2001).
As research by Mind (National Association for Mental Health), shows 1 in 4 people will seek help for a mental health problem at some time in their lives. Ninety per cent of those with a mental health difficulty who live in the community find it hard, if not impossible, to live their lives as active members of their communities. Rather they are often socially excluded and unable to properly access fair opportunities for employment, income, housing, and social and health care. Evidence shows that for people with mental health problems friendship is the most valued community contact and that without it social isolation can be acute.
Research at a local level in Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind and in York and District areas has confirms the need, as does the monitoring and evaluation work carried our by Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind Mind since 2002 to present and York and District Mind form 2008 to present. This evaluation also showed that via the Circle of Friends befriending service positive needs are being met. As prior to 2008 York and the surrounding area did not have access to the service it was felt that the community could benefit from this model being used here too.
Outcomes:
York and District Mind are finding that the outcomes being achieved in Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind are now being mirrored in the York and District area. These are improved independence, reduced isolation, improved confidence and self esteem, effective influencing of statutory services provision in line with people accessing the services wants and needs. Two full time equivalent posts of Befriender Service Coordinators are developing the scheme throughout the York, Easingwold, Coxwold, Tadcaster, Sherburn in Elmet, South Milford, Selby and Escrick area. York and District Mind launched our Circle of Friends Befriending Service as part of our celebrations for World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October 2008. Since then our Befriending volunteers and co-ordinators have worked hard to establish and roll out the service. The Befriending service is funded by The National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund and can be contacted via email or on 01904 466660.
