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WHO WE ARE

Battersea Befriending Network is a local, voluntary, befriending scheme for users of mental health services who experience social isolation within the London Borough of Wandsworth.

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BBN is primarily a volunteer organisation including its Committee Members (Trustees), befrienders and mentors.  Demand for our service is high, greater than the number of trained befrienders, so we continue to run training courses whenever we are able to do so.  If you would like to volunteer with us, please visit the "Get Involved" page on this website.

WHAT IS BEFRIENDING?

Through building a one-to-one relationship, based on trust and confidentiality, Battersea Befriending Network aims to help develop a supportive social network.  We do not offer therapy, but everyone needs, and benefits from, having friends.

WHO DO WE BEFRIEND?

Battersea Befriending Network aims to offer befriending relationships for individuals with experience of mental health problems and social isolation living in the Borough of Wandsworth, especially in Battersea and the surrounding area.

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Battersea Befriending Network aims to complement the care given by professionals (for example through Community Mental Health Teams or GPs).

WHAT ARE OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES?

  1. To provide befriending relationships for individuals who have experience of mental ill-health in the Borough of Wandsworth.

  2. To enable people to be more confident in accessing opportunities and services in the community.

  3. To recruit and train volunteers to be befrienders, developing understanding of the befriender’s role and limitations.

  4. To provide ongoing support to befrienders and the opportunity to support each other.

  5. To encourage partnership working with other mental health agencies and community organisations to ensure a quality of service for service users.

WHAT ARE OUR VALUES?

All relationships with people, especially those who are vulnerable, must have core values at their heart.

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Our underpinning values embrace:

  •      Compassion

  •      Empathy

  •      Mutual respect and trust

  •      Acceptance of self and others

  •      Social inclusion

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