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Ecas

Friendly and practical help for people with a physical disability

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About befriending

How it works

  • Ecas matches you up with a volunteer befriender
  • Volunteers are from all walks of life and are of all ages
  • They include people who are retired, students, able-bodied and disabled
  • We check to make sure that all volunteers are suitable (through references and enhanced disclosure checks)
  • We train and supervise volunteers before and after we match them with you

What befrienders do

  • Distance befrienders will aim to get to know you, have a chat and provide some fun company.
  • When social distancing allows:
    • Visit you regularly (usually once a week)
    • Keep you company
    • Sit, chat, play games
    • Help you get out and about (for example for a cup of tea in a café, to a gallery or the cinema)

Reliable befrienders

All of our befrienders are trained in:

  • Disability awareness
  • Boundaries
  • Confidentiality
  • Communication techniques
  • Safety
  • Wheelchair handling (if necessary)

Befrienders don’t provide any kind of personal care. They don’t give medication.

How we match a befriender with you

  • Ecas gets to know you and the befriender to find out about both of you: your interests and hobbies and so on
  • We introduce you to one another: you both have the chance to decide if you want to see one another
  • We review the arrangement regularly as we want to make sure that both of you want to continue

It’s OK for either of you to ask for a different match at any time.

Find out more

Contact us to find out more about having your own befriender.

Speak to Ally Irvine or Sam Collins if you’d like this service.

What happened when Sam met Robert?

Sam and Robert met for over a year and enjoyed a shared love of history. ‘We cover a lot of subjects, it wanders a lot, leading to the next thing,’ said Robert. ‘It’s a very chilled experience,’ said Sam. ‘There’s always a cup of tea waiting for me. I say ‘hi’ to the cats and we get chatting.’

 

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Self-referral form

Befriending

  • Become a volunteer befriender
  • Befriending opportunities
  • Befriender’s role
  • About befriending
  • Facilitated friendships
  • Make a referral

Any questions?

No question is a stupid question. Head over to our Frequently Asked Questions and if you can’t find the answer give us a call or email and we’ll be happy to help.

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Copyright © 2018 Ecas. Ltd. Registered in Scotland No. 102790. Registered charity No. SC014929. Registered office: Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh EH7 5QY
Scottish Charity Regulator
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