Befriending Scheme  Client Agreement

Sight Loss Ministries’ Befriending Scheme for people with sight loss is a free Christian service available to blind and partially sighted adults, regardless of their faith. All volunteer befrienders have been recruited by the charity and gone through the appropriate checks and training. The befriending is not counselling, but the befrienders offer a listening ear, encouragement and support for a limited period. By accepting a befriender from Sight Loss Ministries, you are agreeing to the following conditions:

• To have your personal information stored by the charity to deliver this service. More information about how we process personal data can be found in our Privacy Policy. 

• To treat your befriender respectfully, including letting them or the Services Coordinator know if you cannot attend a planned session. Your befriender will do the same for you.   

• Befriending in person or by telephone will be limited to approximately 6 months or 24 sessions.

• Sessions often occur weekly or fortnightly at a time that suits both the volunteer and the client. 

• The upper duration for telephone calls is 45 minutes or 1 hour for home visits.

• Confidentiality remains within the confines of the scheme unless a safeguarding concern necessitates information to be shared further.

• The Services Coordinator will contact you at least 3 times during your befriending to see how everything is going with the service. It should be toward the start, middle and end of the scheme. 

• Once the befriending ends, there may or may not be some ongoing contact with your befriender, depending on whether a friendship develops. 

• Should you encounter any problems during your befriending, you can address these with your befriender or contact Sight Loss Ministries to discuss by emailing info@sightlossministries.org or ringing 07516636741.