An opportunity to join the staff team of a long-established but innovative befriending project in the Scottish Borders. You would be responsible for managing all our work with adults with learning disabilities aged 25+ in Berwickshire and Kelso, including a befriending group and 1:1 friendships.

The aim of the project is to improve members’ quality of life, overcoming their social isolation to create the friendships crucial to happiness, and developing their social and communication skills. The respite provided to family carers as a result of befriending is also an important element.

The post is focused on service delivery: working with members and their families or professional carers; recruiting, training and supporting volunteers; organising and running the befriending group; developing and supervising 1-1 friendships. There is considerable room for creativity and potential to start new groups or deliver the service in different ways.

Time of working is flexible but will include regular evening work running the befriending group. The Berwickshire office is in Duns, but working from home is possible. The post is funded by the Lottery, Scottish Borders Council and grant-making trusts, and we aim to provide a long-term service. There is a children and young people’s Co-ordinator whom you would work alongside.

At present the service is mainly delivered through Zoom, telephone and hard copy newsletters, with room for further innovation. It will transition back to face to face delivery once pandemic conditions allow.