UK children need more volunteer male befrienders
Many boys say they would prefer a male befriender according to early findings, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Yet, less than a quarter of UK volunteer child befrienders are men. “The shortage means many boys in need of a strong male presence in their lives are missing out on the adult male companionship they would like,” states researcher Dr Sue Milne of the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR) at the University of Edinburgh. Many of the children referred to befriending services face difficulties at home or in school. Some have learning