May 14, 2015

Mi Connections: Catching up with our Befrienders

The Mi Connections befrienders recently gathered at our Seel Street office for a Get-together to meet, exchange experiences, connect and get creative.

Mi Connections currently supports individuals living with dementia as well as people who experience social isolation and loneliness. The PSS team connects each service user with a volunteer befriender who visits them regularly for a chat, to get out and about in the community or simply for a cup of tea and some quality time together. Their support can also provide important respite for family carers.

During the workshop the group had a closer look at the little things befrienders do that can make a big difference to somebody’s day. From “listening” or “talking about memories”, days out at the museum, allowing silence together to “planting the first seeds in spring” and “Go to pub!” – the things they do together are as diverse as the befrienders and befriendees. The PSS team is currently exploring ideas for potential new service offers like email and telephone befriending to add even more possibilities. And they used the opportunity to ask the supporters for their input.

“Some of our befrienders have been connected with their befriendees for years, others are brand new to the service and looking forward to their first visits, and they all have come to us for various reasons and from various walks of life. Their range of perspectives, new ideas and feedback what is going well, what could be improved and what they think abut new service developments is invaluable.”

Project Coordinator Blythe Cooper could also update the befrienders with exciting latest news: Mi Connections has successfully passed the inspection for Approved Provider Status with the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation and is together with Family Impact and Women’s Turnaround being recommended for the quality mark. This is a great success for the befriending service at PSS: “Working towards and achieving the quality mark has helped us to improve the quality of the service”, says Mi Service Manager Sinead Martin, “We are a safer, more efficient and inclusive service as a result of this piece of work and our aim is to double the number of people we support in the coming months.”