Title

Volunteers, families and children in need: an evaluation of ‘Family Friends’

Comments

The definitive version of this article is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Abstract

This paper explores the findings from a small-scale research project that analysed the impact of Family Friends – a voluntary agency that provides support to families under stress who have children aged between 5 and 11 years. The study, funded by Family Friends, evaluated service users' perceptions of the support they received, specifically in relation to the significance and impact of the volunteer befrienders. The research identified that there are a proportion of families in need who fail to attract services from mainstream statutory agencies. It also identified that the Family Friends voluntary agency makes a particular contribution to service provision by offering a friendly, non-stigmatizing, caring and responsive service.

Disciplines

Clinical and Medical Social Work | Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling | Maternal and Child Health

Recommended Citation

Parrott, L., Buchanan, J., & Williams, D. (2006) ‘Volunteers, families and children in need: an evaluation of Family Friends’. Child & Family Social Work, 11(2), 147-155