'One to One' Befriending - History
The project was set up in May 1996 by the Community Council of Hereford & Worcester in response to research that revealed that many 16 to 25 year olds in Herefordshire experienced isolation that was not addressed by other services. Young people identified that often what they wanted was company and a wider social network. Agencies recognised the benefits of a befriending role, which was not offered by existing services. There was also a realisation amongst youth workers and within the volunteer bureaux that there was a lack of volunteering opportunities for young people in the area.
The scheme was pioneered by the original Project Manager Sue Nichols. By the end of 1996, 12 befriending pairs had been successfully matched, and over the course of the next 3 years, the project continued to progress on a small but satisfying scale, with volunteers taking responsibility for developing a wide range of activities for themselves and the befriendees, including social events and residential weekends.
In April 1999, the project underwent an exciting process of expansion. An early bid to the National Lottery Charities Board for funding was successful in obtaining £384,360, to be allocated over a 3-year period. The Lottery funding enabled 'one-to-one' to employ an additional 3 new members of staff, and re-house to a new project base in East Street, Hereford. The expansion of the project allowed more young people to become involved in the running of operations.
'one to one' befriending has now uprooted its project base to 15 St Owen Street, Hereford, where our current staff, under the supervision of Project Manager Richard Thomas, continue to provide ongoing support through voluntary work, benefiting individuals, staff, volunteers and the community.
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