Give the gift of friendship this Christmas - become a volunteer befriender

The People from Abroad Team (PfAT) at Norfolk County Council are currently looking for volunteers to befriend recently arrived refugee families from Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia and Myanmar.  

Befriending is an extremely rewarding way to give back to the community - just a couple of hours a week can make all the difference to families settling to their new lives in Norfolk. 

Volunteer Sue has been supporting Faisal and his family since they arrived from Syria over two years ago. She visits them every fortnight to help with admin tasks, like bills and medical appointments, and to practice English with Faisal's wife and sister, Fatima and Suad. They have grown close, often chatting over tea, swapping recipes, and sharing family news. 

Sue recently took Faisal and his son to a football match and is planning a Christmas cinema trip for his daughter. Volunteers can choose how they support their families, focusing on admin, English, or other needs. Sue has also assisted with job interviews, driving theory tests, moving house, and dealing with the council. 

Sue said: "The family have had a lot of issues to deal with, and I am pleased to be able to offer support alongside their social worker. It has been lovely to see the children grow up, and now they are older, they can help their parents with their English. As part of my day job, I lead the Bounce & Rhyme session at the family's local library, so it's always nice when they pop in with the baby, as I see the family becoming more independent." 

Councillor Alison Thomas, cabinet member for Adults Social Care, said: "Our volunteer befrienders meet with locally resettled refugee families on a regular basis to help them build their confidence and independence as they embark on a new chapter in their lives. Befriending with PfAT is a varied and rewarding role, and often leads to befrienders finding out more about their city and how it works." 

Befrienders help families or individuals become more self-reliant in the UK. Their tasks include assisting with mail, navigating Norfolk and using public transport for appointments. Regular befrienders also help refugee families learn English faster through frequent conversations. 

The role typically requires a commitment of two or three hours weekly or biweekly for at least a year. Each family also has a Development Worker or Social Worker from the People from Abroad Team (PfAT) to support their plan. 

If you're interested in finding out more, please visit GetInVOLved for more information.