Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of patients and befrienders
Patient characteristics (n = 28) | |
 Gender (n, %) | |
  Female | 12 (42.9%) |
  Male | 16 (57.1%) |
 Age (Mean, SD) | 43 (10.3) |
 Ethnicity (n, %) | |
  White | 7 (25%) |
  Black / Black British – African | 6 (21.4%) |
  Black / Black British – Caribbean | 5 (17.9%) |
  Bangladeshi | 5 (17.9%) |
  Other | 5 (17.9%) |
 Years since diagnosis (Mean, SD) | 25.52 (11.30) |
 Employment status (n, %) | |
  Paid employment | 1 (3.6%) |
  Full time education or training | 1 (3.6%) |
  Retired | 1 (3.6%) |
  Unemployed | 25 (89.3%) |
 Withdrew from the scheme (n, %) | 4 (14.3%) |
Befriender characteristics (n = 34) | |
 Gender (n, %): | |
  Female | 24 (70.6%) |
  Male | 10 (29.4%) |
Age (Mean, SD) | 29.24 (9.95) |
 Ethnicity (n, %) | |
  White | 17 (50%) |
  Black / Black British – African | 6 (17.6%) |
  Black / Black British – Caribbean | 1 (2.9%) |
  Bangladeshi | 2 (5.9%) |
  Indian | 1 (2.9%) |
  Pakistani | 1 (2.9%) |
  Other | 6 (17.6%) |
 Employment status (n, %) | |
  Full time employment | 12 (35.3%) |
  Part time employment | 8 (23.5%) |
  Full time student | 4 (11.8%) |
  Unemployed | 4 (11.8%) |
  Retired | 1 (2.9%) |
  Other | 3 (8.8%) |
  Did not disclose | 2 (5.9%) |
 Previous experience of volunteering (n, %) | |
  Yes | 24 (70.6%) |
  No | 10 (29.4%) |
Withdrew from the scheme (n, %) | 6 (17.6%) |