Montrose Befriending Service

Connect – Create – Collaborate

Young Befrienders

Our Young Befrienders initiative involves S5 and S6 pupils from Montrose Academy visiting Care home residents to build bonds across generations.

Read below for more information about what they do and how it benefits both themselves and the community.

Our Young Befriender initiative is kindly sponsored by Montrose Port Authority and has been running since August 2024 in joint partnership with Montrose Academy.

Each year, a small group of dedicated senior students have volunteered their time and completed training with our Schools Coordinator Fiona Cruickshank, after which they have officially become Young Befrienders.

The students have then been linked with Fordmill Care Home in Montrose where they have made visits to interact and bond with the residents, usually once a week. Regular interaction between different generations helps challenge assumptions – young people may see older adults as more interesting, while older adults may better understand modern challenges. This can help create a stronger sense of community.

Our Young Befrienders have been enjoying providing meaningful companionship with the residents in a variety of ways; chatting, taking part in activities, singing together etc. This is not only expanding our Young Befrienders social skills and interactions with a different generation, but they look forward to the visits every week, as do the residents.

The pupils have grown in confidence and enhanced their communication skills, while the residents have thoroughly enjoyed the company, conversation, and energy the young people bring.

The team at Montrose Port Authority created this short video showcasing some of our Young Befrienders and the importance of the difference they are making.

Samuel’s Story

One of our Young Befrienders, Samuel, has kindly written a wonderful account of his time as part of the program. What started as a way to gain life experience for him, became something much bigger and taught him things that will stay with him forever. Read Samuel’s Story to find out why.

Photo. Fiona Cruickshank, our Schools Befriending Coordinator, stands with a group of our first five Young Befrienders. They are all dressed in casual clothing and smiling at the camera.
Photo. Samuel, one of our Young Befrienders, is sat at a table with an elderly man wearing glasses and a maroon shirt with a beige cardigan. The two are engaged in a fun quiz activity involving emoji-like images and text. The young man is smiling and holding a pen, while the elderly man looks content.
Photo. Two care home residents and one of our Young Befrienders are gathered around a table playing a game with dominoes. An older woman on the left is wearing a red sweater and glasses, gesturing with her hands. In the centre, a younger person with long hair, wearing a pink shirt and black cardigan, is in the process of playing a domino. On the right, another older woman in blue is smiling and interacting with the others.
Photo. Fiona Cruickshank, our Schools Befriending Coordinator, stands with a group of six older teenagers. Three of them are standing and three are sitting on chairs in front. They are all dressed in casual clothing and smiling at the camera.
Photo. A teenage girl, one of our Young Befrienders, helps an older care home resident to decorate a Christmas cake. They are both smiling and enjoying the activity.
Photo. Two teenage girls (Young Befrienders) are pictured next to an elderly woman who is seated to the right, dressed in a blue sweater with a teal collar. In her hands, she is holding the lead rein of a small brown pony with a fluffy mane. The two young women are standing behind, one wearing a black outfit and the other in school unifrom. The atmosphere appears warm and friendly with everyone smiling brightly at the camera.
Photo. Annie the alpaca peaking around the side of the chair of a care home resident. The resident is an older lady dressed in a bright pink top with a blue support cushion around her neck. Annie is on a halter lead being held by Samuel, one of the Young Befrienders.