Inês and Daniela: a befriending story

Volunteering as a befriender has been a completely new and very rewarding experience for me. Daniela and I have been meeting for about a year now, and our time together usually revolves around relaxing and low-pressure activities, such as going for hot chocolate in the park, drawing together, or going to the cinema. We tend to decide what we’re going to do based on how Daniela’s feeling that week or I’ll suggest a few options, and we agree together on what feels right.  

I think the biggest impact is that I help give Daniela a space in her week where she can just hang out and be herself, no pressure, no expectations. It’s time that’s just for her, where she’s not being treated as someone who needs ‘help’, but just as herself. I’ve noticed over time that she’s become more confident and relaxed in our meetings, since we've developed a real bond, and I think that sense of consistency has made a big difference. 

One thing that stands out is how comfortable Daniela seems now when we’re together. Her mum has told me a few times how much she looks forward to our meet ups. When I left for the summer, she and her mum even gave me a little gift. It's definitely the small things like that which show me that these meet ups really matter to her.

Inês, befriender