1. The North Dublin
Befriending Service

2. North Dublin Befriending
• With an emphasis on developing community based services,
one of the problems identified when placing someone in the
community was social isolation. (Vision for Change)
• The North Dublin Befriending Service was set up to help
reduce this isolation and to provide people with
opportunities for social interaction and a sense of being part
of a community.
• Consistent with the National Suicide Prevention Strategy the
NDBS aims to provide out of hours support for individuals,
contact with others, opportunities to socialise and make
new friends and widen their social and support networks.

3. Origins of the idea
• The 5 Mental Health Associations in North Dublin, in
conjunction with the community mental health services,
recognised that a service was required to address the problem
of social inclusion for people with Mental Health Difficulties.
• In 2005 with the help of The Dormant Account fund and
People in Need, funding was secured for a two year pilot
project. This project was administered by Mental Health
Ireland.

4. Building the Service
• In July 2005 the Befriending Project set up.
• The Advisory Committee consisted of a representative from
each of the Mental Health Associations in North Dublin, and
representatives from the community mental health
services.
• At the end of the two year pilot project, it was felt that this
service was badly needed and so it was incorporated as a
company limited by guarantee and applied for and was
granted Charitable Status.

5. One-to-One befriending
• Befriending involves matching a person with
mental health difficulties with a trained and
supported volunteer who commits 3 hours each
week for a social outing with their befriender.
• Each befriending match is initiated, supported
and monitored by The North Dublin Befriending
Service.

6. Benefits of the Service
Befriending looks at life needs of the individual.
Befriending is able to offer an 'out of hours' service.
The Individual decides where, when and how contact
takes place.
The emphasis is on building self confidence and self
esteem and is led by the needs of the individual.
Befriending can offer 'fun in the real world', which sets
it apart from most other services!
Befrienders offer a wealth of different experiences
and come from a range of different backgrounds and
age groups.

7. Benefits Cont/..
Befrienders do not get paid. The voluntary commitment shown is
generally appreciated by befriendees and helps to build
relationships which nurture self confidence.
The Befriending Service complements the work undertaken by the
Statutory Sector.
Befriending can assist people in developing their interests,
accessing community based facilities and improving the quality of
their lives.
The Befriending Service can help to reduce the stigma that some
people may feel. Through the service more people become
educated about mental health difficulties, recognising that it is
something which can affect any one of us.

8. NDBS Social Groups
• It was recognised that as NDBS is an urban service, more
people may be catered for by setting up social groups.
• In July 2007 Blanchardstown Social Club was set up with the
help of Eve Holdings who gave us the use of Conai Clubhouse,
Blanchardstown.
• Finglas Clubhouse was set up in 2009.
• Coolock was set up in 2011.
• The social groups allow people to socialise in a non-
judgmental environment where they can be themselves.
• All activities and events are chosen by the members.
• It gives members an opportunity to meet others and make
new friendships in a safe and non-threatening environment.

9. Achievements to Date
MHE Endorsement
• We have been endorsed by Mental Health Europe
as a Model for Best Practice that can be easily
transferred to other locations in Europe. We were
one of only 4 projects in Ireland chosen as models
of Best Practice.
Dormant Accounts
• We were showcased by Dormant Accounts in their
book “Empowering Communities by Tackling
Disadvantage” as one of their most innovative
projects.
HSE Achievement Awards
• We came third in the Adopting and Adapting Best
Practice section in November 2007.

10. Achievements Cont/…
Fingal Managing Volunteers Award
• In 2012 we were awarded a Level II award in this
Quality Assurance Program run by Volunteer
Ireland and Fingal County Council.
Governance Code
• In 2013 NDBS adopted the Governance Code for
Voluntary & Community Organisations (Type B
Organisation) and we can be seen on the
Register of Compliance at
www.governancecode.ie

11. See Change
We are very active online and use our website, Facebook &
Twitter pages to support campaigns like 'Green Ribbon'
(May 2014) which aims to reduce the stigma attached to
mental ill health.
http://www.befriendingservice.com/
https://twitter.com/BefriendService
https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Dublin-Befriending-Service/

12. Examples of Referral Agents
We get referrals from the following:
St. Patricks Hospital, Connolly Hospital, St. Vincents Hospital, St. Brendans
Hospital
Joyce Rooms, Fairview Community Unit
Hamilton Park Care Facility, Balbriggan
Dr. Seamus Greenan, Swords
Castlebrook Day Hospital / Laurena Day Centre / Kilrock House
Rehab – Outreach Team (mental health) Blanchardstown
Techport Day Hospital Blanchardstown
Rehab Services, 226, NCR
Community Mental Health Nurses Ballymun Civic Centre
North Strand Mental Health Clinic
Basin Club
National Learning Network
Eve Holdings
We currently have a waiting list of over 40 people

13. Volunteer Recruitment
Process• Volunteers can apply on-line through our website.
• They can apply through Volunteer Ireland and various other
community Websites or we can send them out an application
• They must do the preparatory training
• Their two references are checked
• They are Garda Vetted
• They are then matched
• They complete the on-going training offered by NDBS

14. Volunteers
Volunteers are supported by the coordinator
Volunteer Preparatory training takes place 4 times a year
2014 Volunteer On-going Training Schedule
SafeTalk Course Monday 22nd
September 2014
Self Harm Lecture Tuesday 27th
May 2014
Mindfulness Lecture Dates to be Arranged

15. Volunteer Preparatory Training
2 days 10am – 3pm – Compulsary
Course Content
Mental Health issues
NDBS Code of Conduct
Policies & Procedures
Volunteer policy and
supports
The work of the Volunteer
Befriender
Communications
Active Listening
Empowerment
Boundaries
Scenarios

16. NDBS Weekly ScheduleSocial Clubs run on a weekly basis throughout the year as follows:
Coolock Club: Tuesday nights
Suaimhneas Clubhouse, Unit 103, Newtown Industrial Estate, Coolock, Dublin 17.
Finglas Club: Wednesday nights
Merville Court (beside St. Oliver Plunkett's Church), Finglas, Dublin 11
Blanchardstown Club: Thursday nights
Conai Clubhouse, No.1 Main Street (opposite Vineyard pub) Blanchardstown Dublin 15
One-to-one Befriending.
One-to-one matches meet on a weekly basis throughout the year.
Volunteers and Befriendees are called regularly to see how things are going.

17. Other Events
Apart from weekly events
May 2014 Green Ribbon Month
Reduce the stigma around Mental
Health
31st
May Womens World RDS
June 2014
2nd
June Womens Mini Marathon (10
ladies doing mini marathon)
Wexford Maratime Festivalweek to
Bundoran Holiday Centre, Co. Donegal.
July 2013
3rd July BBQ in Conai Clubhouse,
Blanchardstown (Hawiian Theme)
Bundoran Respite Holiday 11th
– 17th
July 3 staff and 20 members will
go for a weeks holiday in Donegal.
August 2013
Day Trip – Saturday 10th
August
Fota Island Nature Park
September - December 2013
Dublin Bay Cruise
Halloween Party
Christmas Party

18. How many people are
involved?
Current Matches
•19 Female
•9 Male
•Social Club Blanchardstown 53 members
•Social Club Finglas 35 members
•Social Club Coolock 43 members
We send out 180 texts per week to members
35 emails and 36 faxes to various Mental Health Facilities

19. Results of Service User Questionnaires
Results from a questionnaire given to all our befriendees
shows the following:
100% Said were satisfied with service they received from
Volunteers.
100% Said they would recommend the service to a friend.
75% felt their self confidence and self esteem had
increased.
95% felt that the sense that they had things to look forward
to in their life had increased.
Volunteers have also documented how they have gained
positive experience’s and benefits from involvement in the
service.

20. Comments on One-to-One
Befriending
“I found it fantastic. Something as simple as
meeting a friend for a chat in a coffee shop is very
important when you’re low or depressed”.
“Having the one-to-one contact was a real benefit.
When you’re not feeling well, going into a crowd
on your own can be a bit much”.
“Basically we all need someone to listen to us and
someone to understand us. When I get better, I
would love to be a volunteer to this service”.

21. Comments on Social Clubs
“I was willing to do anything that could improve my life and
thankfully 3 years later - lots of enjoyable days out, nights
out, cups of tea/coffee, sharing experiences and tips-n-
hints on healthy living mentally physically from other
members, several holidays away in Ireland and lots of chat,
support, time, understanding, caring and laughter and fun,
I'm still here, Thank God!”
“I could be myself and developed as an individual socially
and personally, as I had become very outgoing, bubbly, full
of life and finally became confident in myself to be myself
around other people. I wasn't afraid to speak up and just
talk freely without having to watch my Ps & Qs.”

22. Social Club Comments Cont/
…
• The befriending service has helped me be more confident and
I feel that I actually fit in somewhere, it made me happy to
find out about the befriending service as it is a way of making
new friends, no-one judges anyone and we all get on great
(like part of a team) I have a reason to leave the house on
Tuesday evenings now and that is to go to the Coolock
Befrienders Group Nikki

23. Our Aim
• With a strong commitment to the principle of
“Recovery”, our aim is to empower those living in
the community with a mental health difficulty to
fully engage in community life, consistent with
their own aspirations and preferences.
• Furthermore we aim to reduce the stigma
attached to mental illness.

24. Thanks for listening
Any Questions?