The Diabetes Friends role aims to connect people living with diabetes. We hope that this scheme will help to reduce isolation and give people the chance to receive peer support from someone else who knows what it is like to live with the condition. Sometimes we all need to talk things over and being able to speak to someone else through the diabetes friend role could mean the difference between a good day and a tough day.

A diabetes friend volunteer would support this project by connecting with people and offering support via a telephone and email-based service.

Main tasks and activities:

• Available to respond to calls and emails at scheduled times each week.
• Complete and submit a call log for each call and email received.
• Signpost people to local services that could offer further support.
• Give people the opportunity to talk in a non-judgmental and secure environment.
• Connect with other volunteers supporting the service.
• Maintain confidentiality within the support circle.
• Attend and participate in an initial training session.

About You
We are looking for people who are:

• Able to commit to agreed hours and provide reliable support.
• Living with or caring for someone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
• Has access to a telephone and the internet.
• Willing to offer a friendly and supportive ear
• Willing to attend all training necessary for the role and complete all administrative tasks related to the role.

What Diabetes UK Can Offer You

• The opportunity to be part of the South East volunteering team and support us to extend our reach, creating a powerful network of support across the region.
• Initial training, information and materials to help you carry out your role.
• Regular support from the South East Volunteering team.
• The opportunity to engage with other volunteers who are part of the befriending scheme.
• The opportunity to feedback about the befriending circle so that we can continue to improve the support we are offering.
• The opportunity to learn new skills
• Reimbursement of out of office expenses incurred while carrying out activities for Diabetes UK, eg travel, lunch.