Alan Stevenson and Betty Capes have been recognised for their work at the ‘Befriending Recognition Awards – Scotland 2010’.
Alan Stevenson and Betty Capes have been recognised for their work at the ‘Befriending Recognition Awards – Scotland 2010’. The awards recognise individuals and organisations that have made a difference to people’s lives through mentoring and befriending services.
The awards are a part of a national campaign, called ‘Supporting Life’s Journeys’, to celebrate and support the many individuals and organisations who help to address poverty and social exclusion through mentoring and befriending.
Mentors and befrienders are usually volunteers who are trained and supported by a range of charities and organisations to give one on one support to vulnerable or at risk people.
Mentoring and befriending have long been recognised as powerful and cost effective approaches to helping people achieve their full potential and avoid damaging or even criminal behaviour.
Liz Watson, Chief Executive of Befriending Network Scotland, which organized the awards in conjunction with the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, says: ‘It is fantastic that we are able to celebrate the successes of befriending projects and the commitment of volunteer befrienders in this way.
Volunteer befrienders can be a lifeline for people who are isolated, and really improve the quality of life of those who they befriend. Small projects like this really are the unsung heroes of the voluntary sector in Scotland’.