Our befriending volunteers support the families to become independent and confident in their new environment and community. When the family first arrive, everything is new to them; befrienders aim to familiarise them with the Falmouth and Penryn community, in order to help them become self-directive and form their own networks over time. This is a very broad role, and can include many types of activities with both the parents and children:
- Accompanying families to appointments and activities
- Looking after children while parents have appointments or lessons
- Collecting/taking children from school/nursery, playing with children, taking them to the park, after-school activities
- Helping families to use the internet to carry out everyday activities – such as second-hand shopping and accessing local websites, which may include teaching basic computer skills
- Helping families to become familiar with everyday activities in the UK – such as shopping and using public transport