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Volunteers, families and children in need: an evaluation of Family Friends
Author(s) -
Parrott Lester,
Buchanan Julian,
Williams Debbie
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2006.00384.x
Subject(s) - mainstream , agency (philosophy) , statutory law , service (business) , psychology , family support , social psychology , public relations , sociology , medicine , business , political science , marketing , social science , law , physical therapy
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.