Befriender for Young Person with Cystic Fibrosis

 Apart from the personal satisfaction of helping someone, it is also an opportunity to enhance your own life experience and build new skills. This role is supported by Children in Need.

PLEASE NOTE:- Befrienders MUST have held a full driving licence for at least 2 years and have the use of a smoke free car.

A minimum commitment of 1 year is needed to ensure these goals can be met.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life limiting condition that currently affects around 1200 people in Scotland. The Butterfly Trust aspires to improving the quality of life for people affected by Cystic Fibrosis by providing support, promoting people's rights and helping them to live independently.

Our befrienders offer one to one face-to-face support to a young person aged 8 to 18, who has Cystic Fibrosis.  Young people living with this condition have a demanding daily treatment regime at home and sometimes experience limitations that can affect their confidence and ability to cope with the challenges of everyday living.  They may also be socially isolated because of their condition. 

A befriender will meet with the young person for around 3 hours every 1 to 2 weeks, away from the home environment, to build a trusting one to one relationship. A session might simply be an opportunity to chat, eg over a snack or coffee, or may involve a specific activity such as sport or creative/arts. This will allow the young person space and a suitable environment to explore their feelings, discuss their fears, develop life skills and grow in the areas where they may be struggling.

Desirable qualities required include good listening skills, patience and an adaptable attitude.

Training and support is provided; and expenses reimbursed.     

After applying you will be asked to complete an application form and to meet with us for a short informal interview. Befrienders will then attend an induction event (expenses paid) and the trust will acquire PVG clearance on their behalf, before being paired up with an appropriate client in the Glasgow area, within a reasonable distance from your home.