Be part of this year’s Befriending Week celebrations

16th October 2025

Our team is buzzing about Befriending Week – our big annual celebration running from 1–7 November, and we hope you will join us.

Befriending Week is a national campaign that first began in 2012 and has grown in size and impact each year since. The week shines a light on the difference that befriending makes to people and communities. I’ve been part of the team since 2018, and every year I look forward to the stories, voices and celebrations that come out of this week.

It’s a time for everyone in the befriending world to pause and reflect on what’s been achieved over the past year – thanking volunteers and staff, celebrating service users’ journeys, and sharing powerful messages with the public, stakeholders, government, funding bodies and more.

Some of my favourite memories of Befriending Week come from the photos and stories we observe on social media. We really get a better understanding of our members, of the activities, celebrations and support provided to communities. It is always great to find befriending projects using our cake toppers, certificates and other resources. Over the years, we’ve seen arts and crafts, baking, fitness sessions, board games and my personal favourite, BeFriend in Bellshill – who I must say, are fantastic at a themed event – once had a carnival day with hoopla, hook the duck and more. It looked like amazing fun and a great way to get service users, volunteers or staff together.

In 2025, the theme of Collaboration and Partnerships will shape all activity throughout Befriending Week, and we encourage everyone to adopt this theme. Projects can demonstrate how they engage with their community and deliver a service that supports their wants and needs. Befrienders can demonstrate how they partner with their befriending match to ensure that befriending is mutually beneficial. Projects can provide recognition to their partners, funders, and anyone who helps them deliver their project. This is a week for recognition, as well as raising awareness of the wonderful impact of befriending through stories.

On Wednesday 5 November, we will have a full day of stories and examples. The annual conference and AGM will feature speakers from various befriending services, a panel of Quality in Befriending Award holders sharing real collaborative practice, and dedicated time for networking and peer discussion.

On Thursday 6 November, we will be encouraging befrienders to share their stories with our one-hour virtual Being a Befriender events. These will celebrate volunteers and explore social connection, barriers to it, and how befriending reduces loneliness. Participants will join breakout rooms to share experiences and meet others nationwide. This public event is open to all befrienders.

Throughout Befriending Week, we’ll also be sharing blogs and podcasts that spotlight real stories, good practice and the meaningful relationships created through befriending. We’re excited about the partnerships already involved throughout the week.

But there’s still loads of time to take part, and we’ve got plenty to help you do just that. Each year, we share Befriending Week resources you can use with volunteers, service users and your wider community.

• You can create case studies and share your befriending stories and positive impact.
• You can use social media to participate, posting with our hashtag #BefriendingWeek
• You could host a Befriending Week event to say thank you to your befrienders and recognise their impact.
• You can attend Befriending Networks events of the Annual Conference and AGM or our Being a Befriender events.
• And you can download our Befriending Week decorations, party packs and more.

However you choose to get involved, we’d love to have you with us. We will be keeping watch on Facebook, LinkedIn and BlueSky to learn of your celebrations. Befriending Week is all about collaboration, so your contribution—big or small—really matters.