Space @ The Broomhouse hub

Youth Befriending Volunteer

'The greatest gift you can give any young person is your valuable time'

Space’s Youth Befriending service offers one-to-one support to young people (aged five to 16) across Edinburgh who have been affected by current or historical parental substance use or harms caused through gambling.

Bolstered by a Youth Project Worker—who collaborates closely with the young person, families, and other support services—volunteer Befrienders help young people build confidence, resilience, and self-esteem whilst lowering feelings of social anxiety as they explore new interests, experiences, and activities.

Volunteers undergo a rigorous informal recruitment process and relevant training, and receive ongoing support to ensure relationships formed are safe, consistent, and meaningful.

All programme participants are also invited to engage with others through seasonal group activities, and are urged to attend local, age-appropriate groups and clubs, further cementing befriendees’ feelings of belonging within their communities.

Help us deliver a fun, engaging service

Key tasks:

Spend up to four hours each week with the young person with whom you are matched, taking part in activities on which you both agree (this can be anything suitable for young people, including board games, go-karting, skateboarding, the cinema, even horse riding)
Take an active role in understanding the needs and interests of your young befriendee, and provide a supportive and listening ear to them during your time spent together
Join other Youth Befrienders, the young people they support, and our Youth Befriending staff members for other great group activities throughout the year, including laser tag or our annual Christmas Pantomime trip

Do you have what we’re looking for in our Youth Befrienders?

Befriending is a fulfilling and rewarding experience, for not only our young befriendees, but the people who support them, too.

Do you enjoy spending time with others?
Do you want to share your favourite hobbies with someone?
Do you have up to four hours to spare each week?
Can you commit to volunteering for 12 months?
Are you 18 years or older?
Do you live in Edinburgh?

If you the answer is ‘yes’ to all of the above, you’re ready to become one of our Youth Befrienders. No experience needed; we can teach you everything you need to know about communicating with confidence, learning how to understand the needs of young people, and being a positive role model.

Our befrienders come from all walks of life. It is a volunteer role that suits you, regardless of whether you’re working or studying full- or part-time, are out of work, or have retired.

Are you kind, caring, and compassionate?

We can teach you everything else you need to know about becoming a great befriender.

We have upcoming training dates

If you wish to do something meaningful and rewarding and want more info on how to become a volunteer Befriender, please contact the team at youthbefriending@spacescot.org to reserve an informal meeting slot and be signed up for our training blocks.

Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG).