For Referrers
The Besom helps to connect people who have something to give with those who are in need. We have a robust and confidential system in place for receiving referrals. Besom only takes referrals from care professionals – those working with people in need in a professional capacity, this safeguards the need and makes sure things that are given go straight to those who need it most.
If you have a friend or neighbour in need, please talk with someone who is supporting them in a professional capacity and ask them to make the referral for their client instead.
Giving Things
Giving Things refers to anything that someone needs in their home and may include anything from a teaspoon to white goods. Once a referral is received we will contact you to let you know that we have received it, and to ensure that we have all the details that we need. We will also arrange a joint assessment with you in your clients home. Items will either be new or second hand and will be in a nearly new condition with the relevant fire label or kitemark etc. Electrical items will have been PAT tested before passing them on.
Experience suggest that the life span of a referral is about twelve weeks.
Giving Time/Skills
This is usually gardening or decorating. We do not have any project staff of our own but depend on people from local churches offering their time to help people in need. When a group comes forward to offer time we match the skills they can offer against the referrals that we already have on file. Because each project is different and requires different skill sets it can take quite a while for the right group to come forward so we keep the referral live for a year. Once we have matched a group to the referral we will contact you to arrange a joint assessment in the recipients home.
Everyone who gives time through the Besom has a character reference from their church leader, and is not able to start with us until we are satisfied that they are the right person for the task that they are offering to do.
A copy of our Referral Form is available in Microsoft Word by clicking on the button below.