Mental Health Awareness Week
22nd April 2021
10-16 May is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year's theme is Nature. Throughout the various different phases of lockdown, many of us have been taking walks, gardening, wild swimming,... Read more
Support Your Wellbeing During Stress Awareness Month
26th March 2021
April is Stress Awareness Month, which given the various challenges we have all faced in adapting to lockdown life over the past year, could not be more timely. During Befriending... Read more
An Update from Befriending Networks
8th February 2021
2021 got off to a busy start for Befriending Networks. Since the end of last year, we have been delighted to support over 300 members and with the pandemic continuing,... Read more
31 Organisations to receive Funding Announced
25th January 2021
We are delighted to announce the organisations receiving funding from the £100k Scottish Government’s Winter Support Package Grant awarded to Befriending Networks to share with our members, delivering local befriending... Read more
Launch of the New Volunteer Training Toolkit
11th January 2021
One of the key benefits Befriending Networks offers to its members is access to free volunteer training resources. The form of these training resources have changed significantly in response to... Read more
Looking Back on 2020 with Befriending Networks
16th December 2020
Befriending Networks would like to wish our members a safe and happy holiday season. This has been quite a year and from our team to yours, we hope you take... Read more
Befriending Fund Opens to Applications – UPDATE FUND NOW CLOSED
16th December 2020
We are delighted to announce that we are now seeking applications for the Befriending fund. This funding has been allocated to Befriending Networks through the Scottish Government Winter Support Package, to... Read more
Scottish Government’s Winter Support Package Funding Announcement
8th December 2020
We are delighted to have been awarded funding of £100k from the Scottish Government’s Winter Support Package, that we can share with our members delivering local befriending projects in Scotland. ... Read more
#BefriendingIs Making Connections Creatively with Befriending Lewis & Harris
28th October 2020
Discover how Befriending is making connections creatively across the UK through the Creative Postcard Exchange Project run by Befriending Arts, Befriending Lewis & Harris. Alison is a volunteer with Befriending... Read more
#BefriendingIs Volunteering during COVID-19 with Together Co
26th October 2020
As lockdown measures came into effect back in March, many people experienced loneliness and social isolation in ways they never had before. Befriending organisations and volunteers rapidly responded to this... Read more
#BefriendingIs Welcoming New Friends with B:friend, Rotherham
23rd October 2020
B:friend supports older people living in South Yorkshire. One special older neighbour is Ursula, whose journey Hayley Rundle, B:friend Coordinator shares with us. Introducing – Ursula! Ursula is 97 and... Read more
#Befriendingis Giving and Gaining with Arran CVS
23rd October 2020
Befriending takes place in all parts of the UK, in towns and cities, in rural locations, and in the islands. A befriender and a befriendee from a match that is... Read more
#Befriendingis Sharing a language in Motherwell
23rd October 2020
Isa was referred to Befriend Motherwell. She lives in a high-rise flat and over recent years hasn’t felt safe in her accommodation and has become more and more isolated as... Read more
#BefriendingIs a way of giving back with Age UK North Yorkshire & Darlington
22nd October 2020
Maisie, who's one of our fantastic befriending volunteers in Northallerton, sent the team at Age UK North Yorkshire & Darlington her experiences of being one of our Good Friends Volunteers.... Read more
#Befriendingis Making a Huge Difference through Passing the Baton
21st October 2020
Bethany Christian Trust’s Passing the Baton is a befriending service supporting vulnerable people in our community who are both at risk of, or have experienced, homelessness. The service provides those... Read more
#Befriendingis Transforming Lives with Vintage Vibes, Edinburgh
20th October 2020
At Vintage Vibes, we’re all about tackling loneliness and isolation by creating REAL friendships. We treat every one of our VIPs (that’s what we call our wonderful over-60s) as individuals... Read more
#BefriendingIs Intergenerational as Aylesbury Youth Action volunteers spend time with care home residents
13th October 2020
Aylesbury Youth Actions aims to support young people to develop their skills, and have new experiences, by making and being recognised for a positive contribution to their community. AYA,’s befriending... Read more
#BefriendingIs Fun with a visit from Therapet Holly and the BHA BeFriend team in Berwickshire
8th October 2020
Although visiting in befriendees’ homes was suspended because of the current pandemic, the BHA BeFriend project in Berwickshire has been finding new and creative ways to keep in touch safely.... Read more
#BefriendingIs Brightening up your day – Joy and Diane from Carers Leeds share their experience of befriending
8th October 2020
Aidan Finney, Befriending Coordinator with Carers Leeds shares how Dianne and Joy have found a friend during a time when many have experienced an extended period of isolation and loneliness.... Read more
#BefriendingIs Volunteering with Community Companions, St Barnabas House, West Sussex
8th October 2020
Over the last few months, volunteering for St Barnabas House has been mostly on hold, but Ella Cowgill, Community Companions Coordinator, explained that one role that has been able to... Read more