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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…

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Seascape 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… View

Omega, 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… View

West 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… View

Volunteer 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,… View

West 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… View

Volunteer 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… View

Trust 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… View

Vibrant 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… View

Together 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… View

The 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… View

The 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,… View

Time 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… View

STAR 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… View

SWAN 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… View

Space @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… View

Shetland 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… View

South 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… View

St 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… View

Sky

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… View

Move 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… View

London 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… View

Kincardine & 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. View

LEAP 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… View

Kent 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… View

Linking Lives Eastbourne

PO Box 8279, CF62 5QU

Linking Lives Eastbourne is a befriending scheme for people over the age of 65 who are living alone, connecting them with volunteers who offer friendship through visiting, telephone chats or… View

Kingdom 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… View

Kingston 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… View

Le 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… View

Home 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… View

Epilepsy 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… View

Fairway 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… View

Dumfries & 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… View

Care 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,… View

Community 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… View

Changes

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… View

CACE

Cumbernauld, G67 3EN

Charity for Isolated, Vulnerable and Older People. Providing Day Support, Group Activities, Social Groups, Befriending, Community Transport, Outings and Volunteering. View

Bridgend 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… View

Blind 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… View

Big 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… View

Bfriend (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…. View

Befrienders: 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. View

Befrienders 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… View

Befriend 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… View

Befriending 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… View

ALONE

, 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… View

Action 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… View

Aberlour

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

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