Quality in Befriending Award
The Quality in Befriending Award is the only award in the UK specifically tailored for befriending services and is valued by referrers, befrienders, commissioners, and funders. Developed by Befriending Networks in consultation with member organisations and experts in the field of befriending, the award launched in 2010 and was revised and updated in 2021.
The Award is open to services offering befriending of all kinds, supporting everyone from children and young people to older adults. Whether you offer telephone, group, or one-to-one befriending, the Quality Award provides you with the opportunity to review and improve your service.
There are two different levels of Quality Award that an organisation can aim towards. The award is assessed through a series of indicators, with the option for an organisation to upgrade its standard award to Excellence by successfully meeting additional requirements.
Looking for a quality assured befriending service? Browse our Quality Database.
Why complete the Quality Award?
Organisations who have successfully completed the Quality Award enjoy a range of benefits, including:
- Increased confidence in the organisation from potential referrers, befriendees and befrienders, as well as funders, commissioners and other stakeholders.
- The chance to review and reflect upon all aspects of the service.
- An audit of the organisation’s policies and suggestions on how the quality of the befriending service can be improved.
- A certificate and the use of the Quality Award logo, as well as inclusion in our online Quality Database.
How long does the Award last?
Once accredited, your service will hold the Quality Award for three years.
You will be invited to apply for reaccreditation in years 3 and 6 by providing evidence to satisfy the reaccreditation indicators and retain Quality Award status.
After nine years, you will be required to complete the full accreditation process again to retain your Quality Award.
Hear from current Award holders…
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We recommend the Award as it has given us confidence in the quality and processes of our befriending service, a morale booster for staff and volunteers, and confidence when promoting the service to partners and funders. Befriending Networks were brilliant from start to finish.
Community Together CIC
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Being quality assured means that our service is fully aligned with Quality in Befriending guidelines and allows us to provide a best practice service to our clients and volunteers. It has also been hugely beneficial for funding opportunities. The Quality Award demonstrates that we are robust, effective, and aligned with a best-practice delivery framework.
London Irish Centre
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It’s always useful to review your service, update and tighten processes where needed, and have the benefit of expertise and advice from a different perspective. As a bonus, it’s great to be able to use the Quality Award logo, which is a quick and straight-forward way to demonstrate you meet a required level of practice.
INtegr8 Befriending Service
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Having a nationally recognised accreditation is essential to further development and obtaining future funding and partners. It has been useful in our organisation’s efforts to obtain support and care contracts where this sort of service is highly regarded and beneficial to overall care and support.
SeAscape
Interested in the Quality Award?
Find out more about what’s involved.
Quality Award Holders
AGencyForGood
Keighley
About the Befriending Service: provide an engaging overview and description of your befriending service ViewSeascape Reconnect with Hope
Ayr, KA6 6BE
We assist people to build positive connections in their community and combat social isolation and loneliness, facilitating group befriending sessions within local communities across South Ayrshire as well as offering… ViewOmega, Ending Isolation/Ending Loneliness
Shrewsbury, SY1 1TX
Omega Ending Isolation, Ending Loneliness, a charity dedicated to reducing social isolation and loneliness for all adults. We offer Chatterbox, a free telephone befriending service and Letterbox, a free pen-pal… ViewWest Lothian Youth Action Project
Livingston, EH54 5BP
Befriending service for young people aged 10-21 with things going on in their lives which affect mental health wellbeing. Issues are around confidence & self-esteem & the things which impact… ViewVolunteer Glasgow
Glasgow, G1 1UZ
YPBS provides a high quality service to young people aged 8-18 who are coping with difficult circumstances in their lives. Whether this is because of unusual pressures in the family,… ViewWest Norfolk Befriending
King’s Lynn, PE30 1HX
West Norfolk befriending works to decrease isolation among older people in West Norfolk. Many have become isolated due to a change in physical condition or as they have become an… ViewVolunteer Centre Greenwich
Woolwich, SE18 6FH
BefriendingThe Emotional Support and Wellbeing Project provides support to the residents of Greenwich who are lonely or isolated. This project has been a lifeline to many residents and continues to… ViewTrust Befriending & Supportive Communities Befriending
Port Glasgow, PA14 5HU
Our befriending projects aim to make and build connections between people in their community, reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing. Our project does this by offering a source of support… ViewVibrant Communities, P&EI, East Ayrshire Council
Kilmarnock, KA3 1LL
We aim to support children, young people and families requiring the support of a befriender to facilitate and enable their involvement in a range of community based activities. All our… ViewTogether Co
Brighton, BN1 1HW
Together Co Befriending offers friendship to those who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation and are:- over the age of 50 with limited to no social connections- or over the… ViewThe No. 1 Befriending Agency
Glasgow, G2 7HF
The No1 Befriending Agency helps people live fuller, better lives in their homes by providing a companionship service to older adults. Our service provides one-to-one befriending to those who may… ViewThe Welcoming Association
, EH11 2TT
The Welcoming supports New Scots (refugees, asylum seekers and migrants) in Edinburgh by providing a range of services, including: English language classes, employability support, home energy advice, a community fridge,… ViewTime to Talk Befriending
Portslade, BN41 1DG
We are a relationship centered, excellence accredited, befriending service based in Sussex. We specialise in supporting older people to overcome loneliness through a range of activities from one-to-one befriending, group… ViewSTAR Project
, PA3 2BU
STAR Project is an award winning community organisation, delivering sustainable and positive social outcomes in the North End of Paisley and beyond. Established in 1999, employing a person centred approach… ViewSWAN Women’s Centre
Litherland, L21 8NJ
We are a women and girls centre based in Sefton, Liverpool, offering face to face and telephone online befriending support for 12 months for women over 18 years old. The… ViewSpace @the Broomhouse Hub
Edinburgh, EH11 3RH
Space at Youth Befriending provides one-to-one befriending for children and young people aged 5-16 though supporting them to learn new skills and provide a social experience for children and young… ViewShetland Befriending Scheme
Lerwick, ZE1 0JP
Shetland Befriending Scheme offers befriending on a 1:1 basis to children from aged 7 years, young people and adults aged 16+ years who need support to engage in the community… ViewSouth Derbyshire CVS
Swadlincote, DE11 9AZ
SDCVS Connect Befriending Service is a free service funded by Derbyshire County Council to deliver a vital lifeline to South Derbyshire residents who are 18 years + and feeling lonely… ViewSt Barnabas Hospices
Worthing, BN12 6NZ
Befriending service for patients of St Barnabas House – providing companionship to help relieve isolation or boredom- assist with taking a person out for practical or social reasons- provide company… ViewSky
Isleworth, TW7 5QD
A friendly, weekly conversation, with a kind listening ear. One on one calls with the same person every week aimed at lifting people out of isolation and helping those experiencing… ViewMove On
Edinburgh, EH8 8DD
The Move On Support Service provides social and emotional support to young people aged 16-25 who have previously been affected by homelessness and who are living in the City of… ViewLondon Irish Centre
, NW1 9XB
Befriending Service at The London Irish CentreThe aim of the London Irish Centre Befriending Service is to reduce social isolation, improving the emotional well-being of Irish clients. The Befriending service… ViewKincardine & Deeside Befriending
Stonehaven, AB39 2DN
Kincardine & Deeside Befriending recruits, trains and supports volunteer befrienders who are matched with isolated & lonely older people (55+) living independently in their own homes to provide social contact. ViewLEAP Project
Cambuslang, G72 7PJ
LEAP works in a number of communities within the South Lanarkshire area providing a free befriending and handyperson service, and activities and classes, to people aged 50 and over who… ViewKent Coast Volunteering
Deal, CT14 6AG
The Kent Coast Volunteering Good Neighbours Service is a befriending service for older people (over 60) living in the Thanet, Dover and Folkestone & Hythe districts. We provide volunteers of… ViewLinking Lives Eastbourne
PO Box 8279, CF62 5QU
Linking Lives Eastbourne is a befriending scheme for the over 65’s who are living alone, connecting them with volunteers who offer friendship through visiting, telephone chats or going to community… ViewKingdom Abuse Survivors Project
Kirkcaldy, KY1 1RE
Kingdom Abuse Survivor Project (KASP) is a registered Scottish charity and a company limited by guarantee with more than 25 years’ experience of providing services to women and men who… ViewKingston Carers Network
Surbiton, KT6 7HF
The Young Carers Project which is part of the Kingston Carers Network run a mentoring programme for young carers aged 10 – 18 years old in the London borough of… ViewLe Cheile Mentoring
Dun Laoghaire, A96 K522
Le Cheile Mentoring is a national, volunteer mentoring and family support service in Ireland, which works with young people and their families, where the young person is involved in or… ViewHome Link Family Support
EDINBURGH, EH16 5GA
Volunteer to support families with pre-school children, at home, and provide practical and emotional support, we actively encourage family learning, so all children in their early years have the best… ViewEpilepsy Connections
Glasgow, G2 6HJ
We offer one-to-one in person befriending. Our fully trained befrienders are matched up to meet with someone to meet fortnightly to spend some fun social time together. Living with epilepsy… ViewFairway Fife
Dunfermline, KY11 3BZ
Fairway Fife is a Peer Mentoring Charity involving people with learning disabilities from 16 years of age. Our aim is to encourage and support access to social and leisure facilities… ViewDumfries & Galloway Befriending Project
DUMFRIES, DG1 2NX
Dumfries & Galloway Befriending Project recruits, trains and supports adult volunteers to befriend young people (aged 8 – 18 years) on a one-to-one basis. Our service supports young people who… ViewCare for the Family
Duffryn, NP10 8BA
Care for the Family is a UK charity that aims to promote strong family life and support those who face family difficulties. Our work is focused on three areas: Parenting,… ViewCommunity Together CIC
Tamworth, B79 7DN
Community Together CIC is a not for profit organisation providing a holistic set of services specialising in: Providing a 7 Day per week Telephone Support Service Befriending: Telephone, Face to… ViewChanges
Musselburgh, EH21 6QA
Our Befriending service Well Connected helps individuals who may be struggling with low social contact, loneliness, isolation and low mental health. Volunteering as a Befriender means you can support someone… ViewCACE
Cumbernauld, G67 3EN
Charity for Isolated, Vulnerable and Older People. Providing Day Support, Group Activities, Social Groups, Befriending, Community Transport, Outings and Volunteering. ViewBridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations
Maesteg, CF34 9DL
Community Companions befriending project: We are a free of charge, confidential and non-judgemental befriending project, giving high quality support to people living in Bridgend County Borough. Coordinated by BAVO, we… ViewBlind Veterans UK
London, WC1N 3AR
We are here to support anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, or who has done National Service, and who is now living with significant sight loss. We help… ViewBig Hearts Community Trust
Edinburgh, EH11 2NL
The Big Hearts Befrienders’ initiative helps improve the emotional wellbeing of young people aged 5 to 16 years old who are living in Kinship Care or who are socially isolated… ViewBfriend (registered South Ayrshire Befriending Project)
Ayr, KA8 8HH
Bfriend is based in Ayr and provides a befriending service for young people aged between 8 to 18 years old with social or emotional support needs, living within South Ayrshire…. ViewBefrienders: Argyll and Bute
Lochgilphead, PA31 9BB
Befrienders SCIO provides emotional and social support to children and young people aged 6-18, living in Argyll and Bute who are affected by adversity or social isolation. ViewBefrienders Highland
, IV1 1JT
We are a small voluntary organisation working to improve the lives of people who are lonely and isolated and have experience of mental ill health; memory loss and unpaid adult… ViewBefriend Motherwell
Motherwell, ML1 1JJ
What Befriend Motherwell can offer you: One to One Matches. You will be matched with a volunteer who will visit you once per week for 1 to 2 hours. At… ViewBefriending Caithness
Wick, KW1 5BA
Befriending Caithness is a befriending service which offers isolated adults aged 40 and upwards, in Caithness a chance to meet a friendly face on a weekly basis. Referrals to the… ViewALONE
, DUBLIN 8
ALONE’s Support & Befriending service provides companionship and practical support to older people who would like extra social contact. Trained and Garda-vetted volunteers provide weekly visits or telephone calls which… ViewAction in Mind (AiM)
Stirling, FK8 1UR
Action in Mind is the leading local mental health charity predominantly working across the Stirling Council area, supporting better mental health for everyone.We provide person-centred, outcome focused services for people… ViewAberlour
Glasgow, G51 4EB
Aberlour supports children, young people and families to give them the best chance to flourish, and we’ve been doing it for over 140 years. We work with children and families,… View