Volunteer befrienders offer friendship and support to mums aged 16-30 in Cambridge and South Cambs. Whether you are a new mum who'd like some support or an experienced mum who would like to volunteer as a befriender, Mum2Mum gives mums the opportunity to help each other.
This activity is good for wellbeing because
- being a new mum or a single mum can be isolating – regularly meeting a Mum2Mum volunteer befriender will make you feel less alone;
- if you lack the confidence to get out and about, a Mum2Mum volunteer befriender can come with you;
- you will have someone who can share your parenting journey, through good times and bad.
“When I had my first baby I didn’t know what I was doing and was really unsure of myself. I think I cried more than she did. Taking her out to the shops or to the park felt like a trip to the moon and it seemed easier just to stay at home. I felt really cut-off. Having another mum to reassure me saved my sanity.”
How to contact
Where to go
Histon
Cambridge
UK
Cottenham
Cambridge
UK
Northstowe
Cambridge
UK
What to expect
A Mum2Mum volunteer befriender will:
- spend time getting to know you, offering you individual attention and support;
-
not make judgements about your lifestyle or parenting choices, or give you advice that you haven’t asked for;
-
meet you roughly every two weeks for a couple of hours – wherever is convenient for you;
-
attend medical appointments or go with you to baby groups;
- introduce you to other mums or tell you about other sources of support.
You can apply to have a befriender by filling out this form, or you can ask a professional (GP, social worker, health visitor, Children’s Centre worker) to refer you.
You will then be matched with a befriender, and an introductory meeting will be organised with someone from Mum2Mum also present.
Most befriending relationships last a few months (and can last up to two years), but you can withdraw at any time if you no longer need support or if it isn’t for you.
More information
All Mum2Mum befrienders are volunteers from local churches who are also mums. To volunteer, they have been selected for their suitability for this role via an interview, by providing references and have been Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked. They are then trained to understand what being a befriender involves.
Mum2Mum is run by Cambridge Vineyard Church, but you don’t need to be a Christian to have a befriender and your befriender won’t try to convert you to Christianity.
Volunteering
If you would like to apply to be a volunteer, you can complete an application form.
Having a Mum2Mum befriender is free and so is being a Mum2Mum volunteer.
How to contact
Where to go
Histon
Cambridge
UK
Cottenham
Cambridge
UK
Northstowe
Cambridge
UK
