• Where the family and befriender both live, and how easy it is for the befriender to travel to the family's home, not all befrienders drive or have use of a car, some rely on public transport
• What time of day suits the family for visits and when the befriender is free to visit
• What type of support the family requires
• If the befriender has any preference as to which type of family they work with e.g. a family with a baby or very young children

We also look at which volunteers and families are likely to get on well together, some families have preferences regarding the volunteer they are matched with e.g. that their befriender is someone of a similar age. a "granny" figure, some who is a good listener or a very practical  person.

Home Link always aims to set up an as effective match as possible, for this reason it may be that the family who has been on the waiting list longest does not automatically get the first befriender who becomes available. Likewise a volunteer who has successfully completed all our screening checks and induction training may have to wait before being matched. We ask that both sides be patient as it will be worth it in the end.