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Befriending Co-ordinator
- Part time
- Hybrid: remote working with occasional in-person events and meetings
- £27,500
- 32 hours per week (over 4 or 5 days; job share considered). Permanent
- Closing 22 August 2025

- Advertised from 1 August 2025
Role
About SupportED
SupportED is a Scotland-based charity providing person-centred community support to individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Our mission is to improve access to non-clinical support and empower recovery through peer-led services, advocacy, and compassionate care. Its a brilliant time to join SupportED, as one of a small and dynamic new team of four with the opportunity to shape our services. We offer a warm welcome and lots of great ideas.
Purpose of the Role
Do you like working with people? The exciting role of Befriending Coordinator will shape the development, delivery, and evaluation of SupportED’s expanding Befriending Programme. This includes recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers and coordinating one-to-one and group befriending services to support individuals affected by eating disorders and their loved ones.
You will ensure service users are appropriately assessed, matched, and supported throughout their engagement. You will lead on safeguarding, volunteer development, data collection, and programme design, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with SupportED’s values and objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Service Coordination & Development
- Deliver and manage a national multi-format befriending programme (telephone, email, online, in-person) in line with current best practice and internal guidelines.
- Ensure a robust, safe, and person-centred service for befriendees, including appropriate signposting, risk assessments, review and ongoing support.
- Facilitate the weekly matching of befriendees with trained volunteers, following SupportED’s Befriending Protocol.
- Maintain up-to-date service user records in accordance with data protection and confidentiality policies.
- Evaluate befriending relationships, measure outcomes, and collect feedback to improve service delivery and impact.
- Lead the quarterly Befriending meetings to ensure collaboration, reflective practice, and volunteer engagement.
- Work with the Development Manager to explore opportunities to grow and sustain the service, including funding applications, partnership building, and innovation.
- Co-develop and cp-manage befriending week, volunteer week and eating disorder awareness week with other team members.
- Work collaboratively with the Service Coordinator and Volunteer and Fundraising Co-ordinator to develop future projects to ensure support for those who care for their loved one with an eating disorder.
Volunteer Recruitment, Training, & Support
- Co-manage the volunteer recruitment and induction process alongside the Volunteer Coordinator.
- Design, deliver, and continually improve a high-quality training programme tailored to befriending in the context of eating disorders, trauma, and recovery.
- Provide regular one-to-one supervision, group support sessions, and reflective practice opportunities for volunteer befrienders.
- Recognise and promote the contributions of volunteers and create a positive, inclusive volunteer culture.
- Work in collaboration with other team members to promote volunteering at events, through networks, and in outreach campaigns.
Communications
- Along with the team, contribute materials on various social media platforms, website, at events etc to help raise the profile of SupportED to extend our reach.
Risk Management & Safeguarding
- Complete thorough risk assessments for each service user and volunteer before the match process.
- Liaise with the Development Manager (Safeguarding Lead Officer) and external agencies when safeguarding concerns arise.
- Create and implement clear, trauma-informed guidelines and policies for all befriending participants.
- Maintain the service user journey records, ensuring all safeguarding documentation is up to date.
- Contribute to maintaining the quality of the Befriending Service and work closely with Befriending Networks to stay updated with best practice.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Develop and maintain effective monitoring systems to track service uptake, outcomes, and feedback.
- Provide regular verbal and written reports to the Development Manager.
- Support funding applications by contributing service data, impact stories, and evaluation reports.
- Use evaluation findings to drive continuous improvement across the service.
Person Specification
Essential Experience:
- At least 12 months of experience in volunteer coordination, peer support, or community mental health work.
- Experience supporting vulnerable individuals, ideally those with eating disorders or other mental health conditions.
- Experience developing and delivering training programmes., designing or rmanaging a befriending programme.
- Experience with safeguarding, boundaries, and confidentiality.
Desirable Experience:
- Comfortable working on various social media platforms to raise our profile
- Lived experience of recovery from an eating disorder (2+ years) or close connection to those affected.
- Experience working in small charities or community-led initiatives.
Essential Skills & Knowledge:
- Strong understanding of the impact of eating disorders and barriers to accessing support.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
- Knowledge of safeguarding protocols and risk assessment procedures.
- Strong administrative skills, including use of spreadsheets, Google Drive, CRMs, and evaluation tools.
- Ability to work independently and proactively while being part of a supportive team.
Desirable Skills:
- Knowledge of Mental Health legislation in Scotland.
- Digital facilitation skills for online events and training.
- Advocacy and networking skills.
- Awareness of trauma-informed, recovery-focused approaches.
Other Requirements
- Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends for events or training.
- PVG Scheme membership (or willingness to apply).
- Access to a computer and stable internet for remote working.
- Access to own transport is desirable but not essential.
Responsible to: Development Manager
Equal Opportunities
SupportED is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of eating disorders, marginalised communities, and underrepresented groups in mental health services. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and valued.
Application notes
If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to play a vital role in a growing community-led organisation, we’d love to hear from you.
To apply, please email hello@supportedscotland.org with the following:
- A CV
- A Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining how you meet the Person Specification
- Contact details for two referees
Deadline: 22 August 2025
Interviews: 27 August 2025 Virtual