Volunteering at BCH

Volunteers are crucial to BCH - without their skills, enthusiasm and commitment, we simply couldn't do the work we do.

Volunteers at BCH work with one of two groups of clients - older people or young people with learning disabilities.

Volunteering with Older People

There are many older people in Hammersmith & Fulham who experience social isolation through circumstances beyond their control - due to the death of friends or family, ill health and disability, or family moving away from the area. By volunteering with us you can enable isolated older people to renew social contact and access the things in life which we all need to stay happy - friendship, new opportunities, new learning, access to transport, access to better leisure, health and care services.

Volunteers help isolated older people through a range of support such as: daily telephone befriending to check people are safe and well; befriending an isolated person in their own home; providing companionship and support to someone who has just come home from hospital; or accompanying someone outdoors through the Walking Service to assist them to remain independent in the community, and avoid becoming housebound.

"Everyone needs someone just to chat to - and through volunteering you can give that back to someone in a very easy way... giving your time is a very rewarding way of doing that."
Gareth - Volunteer Befriender

Time Commitment

Volunteers should be available for 1-2 hours each week, preferably on weekdays, during the day.

If you would like to volunteer as a befriender on any of the above projects, contact jhoughtonbrown@creightonhouse.org

Download volunteer application pack

Volunteering with Young People with Learning Disabilities

Young people with learning disabilities face a variety of barriers in everyday life which can prevent them from fulfilling their true potential. This is where a mentor can help, working closely with an individual 'mentee' to help them to achieve their personal goals. Whether it's being able to travel independently around London, getting a job, managing money or building confidence, mentors can make a real difference to the lives of their mentees. We recruit and provide accredited training to volunteers who become mentors to young people with learning disabilities between the ages of 16-25. We particularly work with young people who are isolated, lacking in other services or who may be in a time of transition.

'I would recommend being a mentor to anyone. not only can you make a real difference in a young person's life, but you will make a difference in your own life as well. I really only need three letters to describe mentoring: fun.'
Heike, mentor.

Time Commitment

Mentors and young people meet once every fortnight for a few hours. This can take place in the evenings or at weekends - it's flexible and is up to the mentor and the young person.

If you would like to volunteer as a mentor to a young person with learning disabilities, contact bsloan@creightonhouse.org

download mentoring volunteer application pack