Volunteer: Telephone Befriender with We Are Listening

We Are Listening is a befriending charity supporting adults aged 50+ who may be experiencing loneliness or social isolation.

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Volunteer posts available:

 Multiple

Volunteer Provider:

 We Are Listening, SY1 2RD

Date Opportunity posted:

 26/08/2026

Closing date:

 Ongoing

Opportunity description:

We Are Listening is a befriending charity supporting adults aged 50+ who may be experiencing loneliness or social isolation.

Our volunteer befrienders provide regular, friendly telephone contact to people across the UK. The service is designed to provide companionship, conversation and meaningful social connection through a consistent befriending relationship.

We are looking for friendly, reliable and compassionate students who would like to make a genuine difference while developing valuable communication, interpersonal and professional skills.

The Volunteering Opportunity

Role: Volunteer Telephone Befriender

Location: Remote / telephone-based

Commitment: Approximately 1 hour per week for a minimum of 6 months

Following recruitment, training and onboarding, volunteers are carefully matched with a client aged 50+ based on interests, availability and other relevant considerations.

Volunteers arrange a suitable time with their client and make a regular weekly telephone call. Calls are friendly and informal and might include conversations about hobbies, family, current affairs, memories, books, music, television or simply how the client's week has been.

This opportunity is particularly valuable for students interested in counselling, psychology, social work, health and social care, nursing, education, community work, sociology, public health and other people-focused careers. However, we welcome applications from students from all subject areas.

Training:

 

Volunteers are supported throughout their placement by the We Are Listening team and are never expected to provide counselling, crisis support or professional advice.

Due to the nature of the role and our work with potentially vulnerable adults, volunteers are required to complete our safer recruitment and onboarding process.

This includes:

  • Completion of our online volunteer application through the Volunteero platform
  • Provision of suitable references
  • A Basic DBS check
  • NHS England safeguarding training
  • Completion of our volunteer induction and befriender training
  • The Basic DBS fee is reimbursed by We Are Listening, so students will not be left out of pocket for the required check.
  • The NHS England safeguarding training is completed online and takes approximately 30 minutes. Students receive a certificate on completion

Our recruitment and volunteering process is managed through Volunteero, where students can complete onboarding requirements, upload relevant documents and training certificates, and access information relating to their volunteering.

Skills and development:


Through the role, students have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate:


  • Active listening and communication skills
  • Empathy and person-centred communication
  • Confidence communicating with people from different backgrounds and life experiences
  • Understanding of loneliness, social isolation and wellbeing
  • Safeguarding awareness
  • Professional boundaries and confidentiality
  • Reliability, consistency and personal responsibility
  • Reflective practice
  • Relationship-building skills
  • Experience of volunteering within a structured charitable organisation
  • Experience of supporting older adults within the community


Volunteers receive comprehensive training before being matched, together with ongoing support, regular reviews and a dedicated point of contact throughout their volunteering journey.

Further information:

 

Registered Address: 6 Dunedin Drive, Shrewsbury SY1 2RD

Email: management@wearelistening.online

Telephone: 07832329241

Website: https://wearelistening.online/

Application form: Volunteer Application Form



Don't forget to keep your volunteering profile up to date with all of the great work that you have done, so that your hours of commitment can be recognised in your Higher Education Achievement Report.